Dear Steemian,
The subject I want to write to you today is about making friends on Steemit and whether it is a good idea to meet them in 'real' life.
I am known to wear my heart on my sleeve (just a little bit) and if I care about a friend on Steemit, I have no qualms about telling them.
I am sure and can see that that lots of good friendships have been forged and formed. I have made a few myself that are very dear to me. The romantic in me can't wait to see a few love stories too.
But, I think that if the person that they portray on Steemit is the same person that they are in 'real' life, then it is possible to become good freinds with that person. If either person is not the person they portray themselves as online, then it is all just fake.
After all, that's the premise of online dating sites (I presume as I have never signed up to one), but my father met his current partner on a dating site and they have been together for 18 years now, and they only moved in together last year. Not just friendships, but true love is possible.
But that didn't stop them giving me a lecture on inviting a trusted Steemian friend into my home that I'd never met in real life, but I had talked to them a great deal on Steemit.
There was no doubt in mind that I trusted him, but they did have a point about looking out for my two kids - not that I'd admit that to them.
However, I 'know' there would have been no risk at all. It was just a gesture to help out a friend having a bad time.
But he never made it anyway, I did get to meet him but not quite in the circumstances we might have liked. But that's a story for another day and one for him to share first.
So there is always a small risk of meeting someone that you know from online somewhere, but how many people are actually 'bad' people that intend you harm?
The same applies to people in 'real' life too. How well can you really know anyone?
Perhaps I am too naive still, but I like to believe people are inherently good and there are only a small handful of people with dubious intentions.
In the future, for the most part I will ensure that if I get the opportunity to meet other Steemians, I will go to group events, or places away from home, unless both my heart and head tell me otherwise. And there is still a handful of people that would apply to, if circumstances should dictate the possibility of a meeting.
I'd protect my kids with my life, but sometimes calculated risks need to be taken, its called living. And having no “what ifs” or regrets. I trust my intuition about people.
What do you think on this subject, my fellow Steemians?
Yours sincerely
