Do you have children? Do you often find yourself telling them one thing while doing another? (If not don’t read on because I don’t think you and I will get on).
You see for years now I’ve been warning my gang about the dangers of the internet…don’t give away personal details, don’t ‘talk’ to people you don’t know and never, ever arrange to meet someone you only know online. Thankfully my words of wisdom have been heeded and to date they have come to no harm. However I am now in a rather peculiar position, (not literally, in fact I’m sitting very comfortably on my couch as I type), because come Saturday I’m actually going to meet 
someone I only know online.
Don’t let your imaginations run wild, I’m not cheating on himself, (and if I were I’d not be announcing it here). I am in fact meeting a fellow blogger who is travelling to Ireland from the United States for a holiday. However when I told my gang they read me the riot act.
Me… I’m meeting someone next Saturday.
All of them… Who?
Me… A blogger.
All of them… A stranger!
Me… Well no. I know her online.
All of them… No you don’t. You only think you do.
Me…No I do. I know quite a bit about her.
All of them… Only what she wants you to know.
Me… Well I know she’s living in the U.S.
All of them… You think. She might be making that up.
Me… I’ve seen photographs.
All of them… Google images.
Me… She’s coming here on holidays and I said I’d meet her.
All of them…OMG she’s stalking you and is now meeting you for the kill.
Me… I’m not talking to you lot anymore.
All of them… What’s that you used to tell us..”You know how dangerous the internet is. Don’t speak to anyone you don’t know. Don’t give them your address”
Me… Well I’m going because she’s a lovely lady and I’m looking forward to meeting her.
There I left it, but I suppose they do have a point. Regularly I ‘talk’ to strangers here on wordpress and facebook without for a moment feeling I am doing anything dangerous. In fact over the past three years I have found my online ‘friends’ a godsend, offering tremendous support during some very challenging times.
So this Saturday I will go and meet my online buddy, Beth from ‘I didn’t have my glasses on’ but if you don’t hear from me by Monday….
photo credit: via photopin (license)
photo credit: AUP 5 Steps Poster via photopin (license)
photo credit: just wait a minute …… It will come to me! via photopin (license)
My thoughts on a page. 
I hear that. I guess the difference is a 10 year old is more likely to believe that it really IS Harry Styles sending her those sweet messages compared to a 20 or 30-something who jolly well knows better, hehe.
I’ve met people online but if I had kids, I wouldn’t let them meet strangers until they were legally adults (18), and even then I’d want an uncomfortable amount of details! Once they move out they can make their own decisions without my permission 😉
Yes it’s comparing apples and oranges really.
I’m looking forward to meeting this buddy as we have been ‘friends’ three years now.
Hi Tric, I’m certain you’re perfectly safe with Beth, whom I’m hoping to meet too, BUT I must admit to having met a few verrrrry odd-bods through my online pursuits ~ especially male ones that related to possible work. My word, what creeps lie in the long grass of the web!
Really! Yikes that doesn’t sound great. Creeps.
I’m really looking forward to meeting Beth. Great to hear you are too. Funny isn’t it that she’ll have met both of us yet we ve never met. Yet!
We’ll have to put the latter to rights one of these days.
Cool. If my Ma was meeting someone on-line I’d think she was very hip altogether. Perhaps we’ll get chance to collide in person some day. Your gang will probably suspect I’m a German truck driver Claus.
Have fun
Claus
Oh I definitely have you down as psycho.
Yes indeed this is a small country I’m sure some day our paths will cross.
Thanks tric. That’s… the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me *wells up*
Woohoo! How fun. Bring a taser? Just in case… 😉
Haha. Yes it will be fun.
I’ve met up with a number of people who I have met through blogging and I think that meeting a blogger you have interacted with over time is a lot different from meeting someone you met elsewhere online. And I am sure you’re meeting in a somewhat public place. I think I’ve met about seven or eight fellow bloggers and am always up to meeting more should the opportunity arise. I think you’ll have a ball!
I’ve little doubt Ill be safe as houses. I’ve met a few Irish bloggers at blog events but never away from blogging. I’m really looking forward to it.
so funny, tric. some people are so surprised I’m meeting up with you too, but most just chalk it up to another of my adventures. so looking forward to saturday! i’m a kindy teacher, and i’ll be with my friend karen who is the same and we are generally quite harmless and quite friiendly )) life is short, let’s live it!
Tric – she says she’s normal but ask her how big the container of fish food is that she uses for her classroom aquarium. No one normal ever buys that size. Beware!
an excellent point, paul. yikes, i’ve been found out!
I’m well warned now. Thanks Paul. I might just slip in that question.
https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/?s=fish+food Almost as big as the aquarium!
Reblogged this on I didn't have my glasses on…. and commented:
i can’t wait to meet up and who knows what will happen, but that’s the fun of it, isn’t it?
haha I can’t wait to hear all about it Tric. I’ve met two bloggers and am meeting one more in a couple of months! ❤
Diana xo
I’ll keep you posted. It’ll be lovely to meet her.
Well good luck to both of you. If neither of you show up on Monday who do we call then. LOL Have a wonderful time and talk about whatever it is that bloggers talk about. Kat
thanks )
I know you will have the best of time because what else would you have. Enjoy your adventure Beth you deserve it. Kat
Yes maybe we will just sit in silence and text each other. 🙂
I’m not sure who you should call, but surely one of us will make it back alive.
I am sure you will Tric…I’m not worried about either of you.
Kat
I think it’s marvelous. You get a sense of who’s who and what’s fishy from the comments. You know who’d be great to have a cup of coffee or a beer with after their comments and following their blogs. Most bloggers are pretty open with what they write – have a fun time and tell the story. Enjoy your weekend.
Yes I agree. I’ve been conversing with beth three years and as you say you do get a measure of the person. I’ll let you know if I’m wrong but I think she and I will get on famously.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…….yeah but wait…….. how do we really know you? How do I really know you say “feck” only how the Irish can say it? How do I know you really say ‘himself’? How do I know HOW DO I KNOW? Now I have to go to Ireland to see for myself. Tell Beth to wait until I get there. We’ll meet you together. There’s safety in numbers.
exactly! and will do, colleen )
Ah for decks sake you know it’s me Coleen,its that Beth one who could be dodgy. I’ll have her well sussed, no fear. 😄
My phone is not Irish. It edited feck
I met up with somebody I only knew online last year. I have to be honest, I can be more than a little naive about people… But it went so well, an absolutely wonderful experience. The person I met in the flesh was just like the person I knew online, only more so (if that makes sense). I’m sure you’ll both have a grand time!
Yes you make perfect sense. I feel I ‘know’ beth relatively well so I’m looking forward to meeting her in the flesh. Glad you’d a positive experience too.
Love it.
I’ve just started doing some Craig’s List, after all the above-mentioned worries by advisors. I’ve met some interesting people there, an unexpected benefit of Craig’s. I do follow rules to insure everyone’s safety, like meeting in a central location, like a coffee shop.
I’d like to meet ksbeth, too, when she comes to Savannah.
Well I can testify that beth is a wonderful character. We’d a great afternoon together. It was well worth the ‘risk!’
Stepping boldly forward into the unknown . . .
How exciting!
I survived Deb! It was great craic. She was such easy company and we never ran out of chat. Great fun.
I’m so glad you all had a great time!
So far, I have met up with one blogging pal who lives locally, and one fellow runner from Australia I met on a running forum. In both cases my children reacted like yours. In both cases, I met lovely people. I think we parents get more reckless in our old age – even if it is just taking the “risk” of drinking tea with a complete stranger 🙂 Hope you’re ok – I haven’t been online for ages.
Hey, lovely to see you around these parts again. All good with me thank goodness. I hope you’re all okay?
I met my ‘pal’ Beth on Saturday and I’d a great time. Really enjoyed it.
We’re all fine, ta. Determined to keep on living normally despite the fact that the world appears to have gone into meltdown. If I listened to my instinct, I’d lock my kids inside…
I’m very glad Beth turned out not to be a mad axe murderer after all.
She was great company. I’d say it was the Irish bit of her.
How amazing that you’re meeting up with Beth. Have a wonderful time.. I would love to meet up with her myself and Colleen… there’s lots I want to gab about.