It’s funny, I’m normally not much for going out and meeting people, but I did actually go to a SD gathering, and had a great time (Drove about three hours to get there, to boot!). Also funny is, about half the people in this thread were there.
Well, okay, it was three of 'em. But they were easily worth two or three each.
We had Ed Zotti at the last ChiDope, is that good enough for ya?
Yeah, I got that feeling from her.
You have no excuse next time though and I expect you down here in the near future, young man. 
Little Ed??? Yeah, sure, that will be the day. Say, this microphone isn’t on, is it? Anyway, although I’m impressed with how Mr. Zotti has hung onto Unca Cece’s coat-tails for 23 years of reflected glory, I take the fact that Cecil pointedly stayed away from a get-together attended by his assistant as an example for the rest of us. (Now if you could get Mike Lenehan, Cecil’s original editor, well then I might reconsider).
Eh? For the most part, maybe, but nothing’s gonna stop me an’ Biggirl from smikin’ when we’re trashed, and Persephone bummed a good third of my pack over the whole day.
Miss Creant, thank you. That’s very kind, and I know you were’t feeling well back during the NYC Dopefest too, so your attentiveness is noted. 
Heh heh. I said “smikin’”. And I even previewed. Heh heh.
I’ve never met another Doper in the US. . .my one friendly overture to a relatively local Doper was rubuffed! 
But I met plenty of nice Dopers in the UK, so now my policy is “only meet Dopers who don’t live on my continent”. 
Your encouragement is apreciated, Zyada. There are very few dopers that I wouldn’t want to meet, honest. I’m just shy.
Not long ago, Mrs. Nott and I went to NYC on a group trip from an NPR station. A question about Broadway formality evolved into a Doper Dinner in Brooklyn. We were warmly welcomed in a city we’d never seen by folks we’d never met in person. It was glorious. I drank microbrew beers I’d never heard of, had fascinating conversations with very smart people I had just met. My friends back in Indiana said stuff like, “Dinner with strangers? After dark? In Brooklyn? Are you outa your mind?” Yeah, they said that stuff. They were wrong! It was great.
Yeah, but y’all did all your smoking outside, which makes it easy to avoid if it causes someone problems.
But Gravity, I want to get you and Balance in the same room and see who wins.
Doper gatherings can be wonderful. Of course, like any gathering of internet people, it has the potential to be simply a cacaphonous group of blowhards trying to prove they’re even niftier than they are online … . but when Dopers just get together and act normal (after working through a little awkwardness at first), it’s delightful.
And no, smoking and drinking aren’t required. Not all dopefests are held in bars, anyway. We had a great time playing Outburst at one Dopefest.
I have felt (perhaps artificially) somewhat safe meeting other Dopers because it is a community. If a Doper turned out to be a stalker or a real jerk, I’d have 1,999 other people to look out for me online once they knew about it. Granted, that wouldn’t help me if said Doper was an axe murderer, but I don’t think I’ve ever met a Doper alone unless someone else had already met them.
I’ve had a boatload of Dopers in my house.
And mercy on us all if I actually decide to show up one of these days.
Aw, thanks sweetie…we liked you, TOO!
I’ve had out of state Dopers stay at my house before and will again in the near future. I’ve met a Doper for an evening at the Musee D’Orsay and dinner in Paris. I almost met Coldie for a beer in Amsterdam, but the timing was just off. And there have been a couple of Dopefests. Yes, it can be intimidating meetings new people but it’s also a great way to further friendships. It may help that I am not looking to hook up and neither are most others. But so far we do seem to have a few Doper weddings and one Doper-baby of pure lineage. So something is going right. Net, if you’re comfortable with the idea, go for it, otherwise, don’t.
I’ve never been into real life meetings of online acquaintances. Just kind of keep the spheres of my life seperate kind of thing. Message boards for me are kind of a mild confessional. I can use the anonymity of the whole system to clear my mind or talk about TMI subjects that I wouldn’t really want my close friends to really know about me. 
If I ever started meeting people it cause me to lose that release. Then I would have more friends I’m too busy to spend time with, and I would have to find a new place of anonymity.
Personally, I thought she was feeling fabulous during the NYC dopefest. But then again, that’s me.
you rang? this is one of my pictures.
I drove all the way from Northern Utah to Phoenix, AZ just to meet some guys I knew online. Granted they are all gay so I as a woman wasnt worried about being attacked:D Had some concerns for my hubby tho! just kidding!
I have met one doper who lives here in Utah and I guess if I had been thinkin I coulda met some more while I was in Vancouver, B.C. last month:smack:
We are planning a Vegas trip next year to meet another online friend. I AM SO EXCITED!
Anyway, I likes meeting people in small groups… I don’t do crowds at all. And meeting in a public place first time is no worse than datingnot that I get to do that ANYMORE and I am a strong believer in my gut. If my gut feeling is this person is creepy then I get outta there fast!
Well, duh! Of course, I was too polite to see how The Shirt[sup]TM[/sup] felt, though it seemed to give others a fever.
Whitie, I’ve met Mike Lenehan. He’s a cool guy. And I’ve worn Ed Zotti’s little red jacket. So there.