Yup, this describes it for me too (except or the hockey part).
My husband posted here briefly, but didnt really stick around much.
None. I bet there are less than 75 active dopers from my whole state.
I’m Facebook friends with 2 Dopers and I’ve interacted with them outside of Facebook but not face to face. They don’t know who each other is on FB and it makes me smile if they both show up in the same FB thread.
I talk to a third Doper on IM at least a few time a week if not daily but he is way too cool to let me be his FB friend. We talk a lot about food and sports.
I met a couple of dopers at different times for a beer or a meal. that doesn’t count as on going
I know 2 occasional posters from other forums, where we’ve been friends for years. I’ve met one of them briefly IRL.
But of the regular hard-core Dopers? Zippo.
I met Misnomer at a small gathering of DC Dopers several years ago, and we’ve been good friends ever since.
The only doper I’ve met is someone I worked with, and they no longer post.
Gary T worked on my car. I’d probably go back to him if it needed anything else and I was in Kansas City. Does that count?
I’ve met 3 other Dopers in real life, and I’m Facebook friends with a fair number.
Zero. I’ve never met any in real life. I’m hoping that I can go to the next Chicago Dopefest.
A bunch, if you include people I get together with when they’re in Philly or I’m in wherever, and/or who I chat with regularly on IM. Add people I’ve met at Dopefests or other one-time occasions and am now FB friends with (or mutual Twitter followers), and it’s probably several dozen.
Zero. And that’s the way it’s going to stay if I can help it.
What she said!
Two. One with whom I’m Facebook friends.
The other with whom I wrote a book.
I used to have one doper friend that I would get together with occasionally outside of the dope, but sadly he is no longer with us. He was a good guy, too. I miss him.
I used to grill for everyone at Gettysdopes when we had those, but after the last fiasco that ended those I haven’t had any real life contact with any dopers.
So the current answer is 0.
I’m acquainted with much of the Central Florida Doper community (and a few former members) via Facebook. There are a half-dozen Dopers I’d call RL friends, though I haven’t actually met some of them in person.
Met a few at a NJ Dopefest. No continuing IRL relationships.
There were only 10 posts before yours including the OP. The board has over 6,000 active members. You don’t have enough data to support your conclusion.