Meeting New Old Friends
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
June 18, 2019 7:06am CST
I've not been here in ages. I lost my job about 6 months ago, thought I'd want to be rattling on about it on here, but soon realised I didn't want that at all, and I went to ground. Rumours of my total disappearance are slightly exaggerated but not too much.
After many months of 'Ooh, you're not far from me, how about meeting up sometime?' with @fleura (apologies - been a long time, I've forgotten how to tag), we arranged to meet for lunch and a walk yesterday at a place almost exactly half way between our homes.
Fleur hadn't done such a thing before. I've been doing if for many years. If I think about my best friends, one is somebody I met on eBay (now THAT is pretty weird), several more are ex-Ciao and dooyoo now real world friends, others are from Trivago and Igougo. I've meet online friends in India, USA, France, and other places. I even spent many years as and undercover book mule for @MALUSE and her Kindle is registered to my address.
Perhaps I'm a great judge of characters, perhaps I'm ludicrously trusting, but I've never had a bad experience yet and I've met some very lovely people.
As a result of meeting Fleur, I'm now fired up about 'Toad Patrol', have given a lot of thought to how to stop deer eating strawberries, and I'm tempted to cover my car in stick on flowers.
Get to know people online first and trust your instincts. Don't meet them in isolated places, tell somebody where you're going, and if anything feels wrong, then make excuses and don't go.
15 people like this
13 responses
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 Jun 19
sorry you lost your job - great that you met with @Fleura - the only Mylotter I met offline was the late great Koalemos
3 people like this
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Aug 20
Wow, you got to meet Barry, I'll bet you two had plenty of laughs.
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 Jun 19
@boiboing cool, if you are heading this way do let me know
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
18 Jun 19
I met someone who used to mylot a lot on here, she pops up every once in awhile now. I actually used to talk to her friend more than I talked to her, but we still met up since she was in the neighborhood.
I would be willing to meet more 'lotters and other online friends as well, but I'm also terribly shy and not sure what to say in most situations. I'm glad you enjoyed your impromptu get together.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Jun 19
Okay, I wonder if we knew each other on Igougo. I was Zabelle and was the channel manager for travel for about 6 years. I met up with several of my IGo friends and went to three of the Igo get-togethers, one in Vancouver, one in Chicago and one in New York. I so wanted to go to the London one but the timing was just bad for me but I met up with Steve in London and Graham and Barbara (the owner of Igo's sister) in Bath. What was your name at Igo? if you don't mind my asking. I am still friends with Rachel, Henk and Leigh Goessel.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Jun 19
@boiboing Okay I recognize your name and yes, I did as well. I was in the first class of the members nominated to the hall of fame.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
18 Jun 19
@BelleStarr I didn't join until a few years before it folded. Wish I'd found it sooner. It was far and away my favourite travel site. They let you write about anything you wanted to and that gave the freedom to be a lot more creative.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458648)
• Switzerland
19 Jun 19
I am glad to see you back and sorry you lost your job. You tagged Fleur correctly, she is a nice person. I have met many nice and kind person online, I would say many more than I met in real life. Good advice to be careful when you meet someone for the first time.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
18 Jun 19
@didinedhia Just saying you don't need to worry that I'll turn up on your doorstep :-)
2 people like this
@Hate2Iron (15730)
• Canada
19 Jun 19
I know what you mean about easily trusting people. I tend to always look for the best. Sadly, the world isn't always like that. Like you said... if it doesn't feel right... don't go!!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
19 Jun 19
I'd always prefer to think the best of people - until they prove I shouldn't - rather than being too wary.
@Fleura (29175)
• United Kingdom
18 Jun 19
I was impressed that you did some 'revision' before coming! I should have done the same because I've only just remembered that I wanted to ask you all about Inida - Doh! We'll just have to meet again!
Oh and if you did want car stickers, mine came from here
1 person likes this
@just4him (306710)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Jul 19
I'm glad you're back and meeting new old friends once again.
I agree with you. There are many friends I meet with on here daily and look forward to the visit. I'm glad you came back.
