What's the etiquette for meeting someone off of the internet?

[AreaCode707]

Just review this for me, guys, please, show me that you know it. Post the rules. And correct my spelling of etiquette if it's wrong.

 

[Orsorum]

Wear a thong.

Only a thong.



And bring beer.

And I think your spelling of etiquette is correct.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Wear a thong.

Only a thong.



And bring beer.

And I think your spelling of etiquette is correct.

Just so everyone knows, Nate and I were both fully clothed when we met, and remained so through all of our following encounters.

 

[AreaCode707]

Accidental double post, so I'll make this useful.

RULE 1. Always meet in public.

 

[yllus]

For a guy it's pretty short:

1. Show up at agreed upon semi-public location to wait for IP (Internet Person) on time.
2. Hope she's hot.

 

[Lager]

Anyone that looks like Kristin Kreuk.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Your spelling is correct. I think...

The most important thing is not to come over un-announced to a place of residence. Businesses are OK to stop by un-announced if and only if it is a small business and the person you're visiting is the owner. (e.g. visiting CompuCheap to see Russ.)

Never bring a group to a place of residence unless you have prior permission.

Do not show up randomly without having been given the address personally (after all, it's really, really, really creepy if someone to whom you've never given your address shows up).

Basically, try _not_ to seem like a stalker or serial killer or a rapist.

ZV

EDIT: Almost forgot: Meet in a hotel in Bowling Green Kentucky and request that the room next to yours be saved for your visitor. That way, when the visitor checks in, the night clerk for the hotel will tell him, with a facial expression that suggests that he thinks something shady is going on, "the girls are waiting for you in the room next door to yours".

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Just so everyone knows, Nate and I were both fully clothed when we met, and remained so through all of our following encounters.

But my fantasy!!!


Yes, always meet in public.

Carry a cell phone.

Bring a friend if possible.

Have plans for the meeting clearly laid out - i.e. don't spontaneously decide to visit someone's house or a park without planning for it first.

 

[zCypher]

Having talked to the person and gotten to know them very thoroughly is always a good idea. So I guess the rule would be not to jump into meeting someone you've only talked to for a short period of time and not gotten to know all that well. I've met several people from online and never had any sick encounters. The last meeting was the best of all of them so far. I met someone I had talked to for several years, and we were both what we expected of each other and more. So it went really well. We got along in person as well as we did online, which was very well.

 

[RossMAN]

Hopefully you have known them for at least a few months online. Via forums, email, PM's and IM.

Also it would be nice if you have chatted with them on the phone a few times as well.

Bring a friend with you and a cell phone.

Meet in a public area of the city during daytime hours.

Don't be shy and have fun.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Wear a thong.

Only a thong.



And bring beer.

And I think your spelling of etiquette is correct.

i thought those were the rules for visiting fausto?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Just so everyone knows, Nate and I were both fully clothed when we met, and remained so through all of our following encounters.

That's too bad...

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Orsorum
Wear a thong.

Only a thong.



And bring beer.

And I think your spelling of etiquette is correct.

i thought those were the rules for visiting fausto?

Flip that around. Those are Fausto's rules for visiting someone else.

 

[silverpig]

Whip it out.

 

[minendo]

Bring a gun, lime, and a shovel. Dig hole in cornfield the night before.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: minendo
Bring a gun, lime, and a shovel. Dig hole in cornfield the night before.

No dude, make THEM dig their own hole. It's a lot easier on your back.

 

[BillGates]

Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

What the hell is your problem?

 

[KahunaHube]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

Rule 3: Watch out for these guys ----^

 

[Mustangrrl]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

She is the least likely person to pose a question like this as a cry for attention, seriously... maybe you just don't know her style very well.

I agree with the chatting on the phone first, it gives you a better idea of this person's sense of humor, reactions, etc. And Paige, try not to dress like DeNiro in Taxi Driver, that might help

 

[DrPizza]

yes, the "meet in public" advice is the best.... Perhaps the best way to meet someone in person and get to spend some time with them in a "safe" environment is to have lunch or dinner together somewhere. Then, the initial meeting lasts long enough for you to decide if they really are like the seemed on the internet and on the phone. After lunch, you can run off to the motel room , go your own separate ways, or go do something else together. A lot probably depends on the type of relationship on the internet (just friend vs. romance possibilities)

Incidentally, someone in my hometown started chatting with me recently.... because she got an extra part time position at a local convenience store, I've had to go out of my way to avoid going to that store.... it would seem too much like stalking to me to shop there.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: BillGates
Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

What the hell is your problem?

Hmm if you had read his posts you would know that any women who is the slightest bit assertive is a threat to his masculinity!

 

[NutBucket]

Oddly enough most of the people I met from the net I had only talked to about a week or two online before meeting them. Anyhow, I just met up with them in a neutral, public place. Nothing too fancy about that.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Rule 2: Stop posting "cries for attention" threads in a predominantly-male forum and spend more time socializing with real people. "Online" people are real people just like you are.

Why is it that some of these kids get off on being assholes to anyone who's nice and happens to be female? Is their ego so incredibly over-inflated that they think that these girls really have any desire at all to have the attention of a sniveling little puke?

ZV

 

[melly]

I've met all kinds off the net and it's quite fun. Granted, I 'knew' them for quite some time via forums, IRC, chat. Don't meet someone who msg's you randomly. Public place w/ good lighting only because you want to avoid that whole "good lighting/bad lighting jekyll and hyde" thing. I'm hoping to meet a few more in October.