SDMB/IRL friends

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m constantly amazed by the friendships that I have formed from this board. I’ve never met so many wonderful people from online before, and I’ve met a LOT of people through the computer. It also got me thinking how I’m surprised often about how many other people have offline friendships with their online friends. You’ll catch a post sometimes where you find out that two posters you had no clue knew the other existed have a rich friendship in the real world.

For example, those that care know I “know” dpr, but I’m sure most people would be shocked to find that Nen and Maeglin are two of my best friends. Two prolific GDers hanging out with a MPSIMS lowlife. :slight_smile: Another really good friend of mine is Anamorphic. I’m also in frequent to semi-frequent contact with boli, Flypside, DynoSaur, VileOrb, thinksnow and magdalene These are just the ones I keep up with via phone and/or email. There’s at least two dozen others that I talk to frequently via chat or AIM.

How about you? How much of your phone bill/plane ticket money goes to visit those that you can also find on the boards?

2

Well, considering that I made a 10-day, 4,000 mile cross-country schlep to meet other Dopers, I think there’s something there. :slight_smile:

I am fortunate, however, in that one of my closest friends on the SDMB, robgruver, also lives in Houston, thereby affording many opportunities to get together. And since he’s a local call away, it saves on the phone bills :smiley:

Robin

3

None. I hate you all, especially the 83 I’ve met IRL.

4

For me, its only been this year that I’ve really started to develop Board friendships versus acquaintance-ships.

As a matter of fact, Persephone,CrankyAsAnOldMan and I are getting together this weekend to discuss an issue (private, thank you ;)) that we all three share.

thinksnow and I have been email buddies for a while now, as well as Strainger. I’m hoping to hook up with Geobabe when she performs with her choral group at UofM this fall. I’ve emailed with Sophie and jarbabyj occasionally.

The more I meet people on this Board, the more I realize what a very cool thing we’ve got going on here.

Plus, I’m hoping to organize a Doper Gal Shopping Extravaganza at Birch Run (here in Michigan) this late fall before Christmas. Maybe around beginning of November, rent a bunch of rooms at a hotel with a hot tub, pool and room service. Shop 'till we drop and then kick back in the hot tub and just talk till our eyes glaze over.

5

Yeah, we Michigan Dopers are extraordinarily lucky to have each other. AND WE’RE GETTING CARINA SOON!

Every time I get a chance to go to Chicago, I get a twinge because I’m so eager to see Dopers there whom I consider friends. I’ve met magdalene, but we both were suffering sinus infections so it was a tame meeting by any standard. Thus far, I haven’t been able to jump on any other opportunities for Chi-town adventures, but they’ll come, I know.

6

Well considering I’m flying halfway accross the world to meet them in October, I’d say I’ve made a few friends here :smiley: And then they’ll count as IRL friends too, although I consider many of them to be close friends anyway.

7

Well, I consider thinksnow a friend. And, since I got to fondle jarbabyj, I’d better include her, too. MikeG and VileOrb took me to eat sushi and do oyster shots when I was in Chicago this past weekend, so I include them, too YOU were out of town, as I understand, Nym, else I would have had them hunt you down, too).

8

Out of town, out of state, out of country, out of the hemisphere, dear Super. Otherwise I surely would have joined you for drinks and debauchery. :slight_smile:

9

See, you and wring need to lay the kids off on the men for a weekend and come down for a footloose and fancy-free ChiTown weekend.

I don’t want to name everyone’s name, but there are quite a few people who have crossed the line from “board and email acquaintances” into “plain old friends”, and I’m grateful and lucky to have y’all.

:slight_smile:

10

I know xeqter and Captain Smashy, but then again, I have known them both about 15 years or so.

11

Yep, us MichiDopers are getting to be a really tight-knit group. The ones I’ve met have most definitely stepped out the Board Friend zone and into the real-life friend zone. I’ve never met a more wonderful bunch. Shopping with BunnyGirl, rubber stamping with wring, Art Fairing & DopeFesting with a whole lot of others, man, it’s been a great year for really forming friendships.

Then there’s the ones who are friends, but I don’t see much of. People like thinksnow, UncleBeer,** & elelle. Awesome folks. Just awesome.

Then there’s the friends whose faces I’ve never seen in person, but really, really want to. Christ, to list them here would take days. But I’ve got to mention Euty, Scotticher, evilbeth, and dantheman. The four of them talked me through a really, really rough time, and I love them for it.

And of course, Xploder and Mrs. Xploder. Friends like those two are so few and so far between. I consider myself blessed by the Goddess to know people like them.

12

Whoops, make that 84.

I’m booking a flight to LA in October this evening, so that number is sure to go up.

I guess, smartassery aside, there are a number of people I consider friends. Real, actual friends. One of these, Superdude, I see all the time (btw are we going to Jake and Elwoods tomorrow?) Others, like MikeG, Porcupine, Dyno, Nymy, BunnyGirl, and** IdiotBoy** I only see occasionally. Others, like virtually everyone I’ve met at any of the DopeFests I’ve been to, I think of in a good way…except Mercutio, he sucks.

13

I don’t know any Dopers in real life, but LadyFoxFyre has become a good online friend. I think it’s because she reminds me strongly of my best friend who lives many miles away from me.

14

Interesting thread. I’ve met quite a few Dopers (I think ~55), some of whom I’ve now seen many times, in quite a few cities. And there’s been email and IMs,

So there’s quite a few whom I know and look to their posts with interest - I can picture them, we’ve had some fun together and I know a bit about’em that didn’t come from the Board. And I always look forward to seeing them again.

And with some I always have that feeling of seeing a friend. Zyada, Grace, JimB, Irishman, Sealemon & Bubble Girl, TheNerd, Ayesha & LIONsob…no, I can’t get all the way there because I’ll leave someone…, well, I don’t want to rank my acquaintance. All of the above I’ve met with several times and have enjoyed. I feel quite friendly towards them.

And there’s some, like techie and Scotticher and Saphy and thinksnow (& too many more to name) that I’ve only met IRL once or twice from whom I carried away great feelings, but I know it’s doubtful I’ll ever really know them very well.

I can’t begin to name all I’ve met, and there’re too many more (Little Nemo, robgruver, MsRobyn, Cheffie, RevEdge…ack!) who merit mention as folks I enjoy and want to see again (and will).

It’s now getting into the multiples of years that I’ve known some of these people.

BUT, as much as I like several of them, I’ve yet to actually “bond” with anyone. In IRL, or should I say, non-cyber life, I’ve got lots of friends, as I do here. But my circle of friends includes only a small percentage with whom I commisserate on the bottom line of life as it directly relates to them or myself. You know, specific details. Hmm…, that’s not coming out right.

I’m hardly introverted, as any of y’all that have met me can attest. And I have nothing to hide…, I’m pretty much a what you see is what you get individual. And, while I can allude to the details of specific quandries in my life on this Board, and harvest useful thoughts to apply to the resolution thereof, I tend to retain a certain security buffer.

As of now I’ve not reached a point with anyone here (yet?) where I’d be able to say, “I’ve got $x in savings and this is what her lawyer says, but this is what really was agreed upon…” Or whatever.

So, yeah, I’ve made some friends here, and I feel perfectly comfy walkin’ my own walk in the 'hood here. Perhaps the bonding stuff in e-land just comes more slowly for the chat/email/IM deficient.

But I am truly heartened to hear of the friendships that have blossomed. And Oh! The couples! Man, that is great stuff to hear.

Oh wait! Now I see the sign that says the Psychiatrist is out!

I want my nickel back!

15

People I’ve never met but consider my friends, whether it be via email, chat or the phone…

[sub]in no particular order[/sub]

True Pisces
Crunchy Frog
Dynosaur
Manservant Hecubus
MamaHen
Anthracite
KatieKilldare
blur
Verrain
iampunha
Nicklz

16

Shit, forgot AbbySthrnAccent, dropzone and Sir Rhosis

17

Well I feel very fortunate to live in Chicago, home to so many Dopers! (also in no particular order)
Vileorb, you have been a great, great friend and I am so glad you moved into my neighborhood.
Gaudere There isn’t much I can say that hasn’t been said before. You are a truly wonderful, smart, and terrifically funny person, and I feel fortunate to know you and be able to call myself your friend.
Magdalene, my movie going, salsa lovin’ bud, I love that I have someone to talk to who is not afraid to tell me when I am being an absolute IDIOT! :wink:
jarbabyj and Brian( sign up and get free Bolding!), Thanks so much for the tent and I am also really glad I met you guys- you are a great couple!
porcupine, Another wonderful person who never fails to make me laugh:)
Nymysys, I’m glad you are back in Chicago and that your life has gained so much from this board - you are one lucky girl!
tiggeril You never cease to amaze me with your wacky humour and unbelievable amounts of energy!
And these are just the ones I would consider “IRL” friends in the strictest sense of the OP! The list of people I have met on this board who have enriched my life this past couple years is staggering as I sit and think about it. The people who have affected me and touched me is just…wow

You all rock!

18

By having the privilege of chauffeuring Scotticher to San Antonio and spending the day with Purplebear, Mr. Bear and their daughter, Bluebear, then coming back thru Austin and going to their dopefest, then joining Grace and Scotti on Sunday, I was able to be with about 20 people from the SDMB this past weekend. Add to that another 30 or so that have joined the dopefests in Dallas, my total SDMB friends is around 50. I’ll be going to LA in October and except for Scotti and beatle, if he makes it, I’ve never met anyone that is going, so that’ll add another 40 to 60 to the list.

I’ve had several occasions to be with Chef Troy and his family, talked with Aglarond’s mother when he was in the hospital, copped a feel from Zyada’s mother, had a close relationship with runadoc and met her family including Poysyn. The SDMB people are very much a part of my real life.

My long short list is about a dozen that I will join at any time, no matter what the occasion nor the size of the group.

My shorter short list, Scotticher, Grace, Zyada, and Purplebear, I’ve spent hours online, on the phone, been to their house, they’ve been to mine, met with away from group gatherings and things like that. I consider them 4 of my closest friends.

And beatle, I have about the opposite relationship with my close SDMB friends, they probably know more about me than most people that I’ve been around for years.

A better group of people I don’t know how you could expect to meet. Thanks, Cecil.

Jim

19

There are definitely a few great friends I’ve made on the SDMB. AudreyK has become a very wonderful friend, Brunetter is a great friend as well, Scotticher has become such a close friend, and Medea’s Child is a very good friend, too. I hope to be buying some plane tickets to do some visiting, soon, now that I have my new job. :slight_smile:

There are a lot of other posters that I would call friends, too.

20

I’ve begun to grow very fond of Elenfair, although we’ve not met yet. She always sends love to my li’l doggie – surely the easiest way to win me over.