There are a lot of horror stories about meeting someone online. I mean, let's face it, we are living in dangerous times. No, this is not a horror entry. I 'll try to share here my online quest of meeting friends.
When I was graduating from high school it was the time of the internet boom. Really, everyone wanted to go online but it was really expensive. I remember I paid 60p (about $2 then). Chatrooms were kinda old, First there was something before IRC. I cannot really remember what it was but I remember I had to use a prefix before I can send messages to someone. Then there was IRC, well, there's still IRC now but I think most people use yahoo or other chatroom sites to chat. There was ICQ. I stayed there for quite some time. My first boss also had ICQ, then everyone migrated to Yahoo!
I met a handful of people through the net. There's one from Manila. I have actually met him personally too, on several occasions. We have been in constant communication since 2000, I think. We have maintained friendship on and offline. Then there's someone from the US who I still exchange Yahoo messages with (since 2003).
Then blogging came. I never really thought that I'd meet people through blogs. Well, there are the exchange of ideas when you post online, but to exchange emails/ messages/ PMs, it's another thing! But hey, when I started to work here, and you got a lot of idle time in the office (read: recession in the construction industry), finding something good to read and you can relate to becomes life saving (from insanity). I began blogging on a very personal note, on and off since 2007. Then I realized that blogging, even if I am not the stellar writer that I wish I were, became something of a release to me.
So then, I frequented a site, soon I became constant visitors to other bloggers webpages. It's fun to read something about someone and just about anything actually.
Then I met a fellow Filipina working/ living abroad and actually asked me to help her purchase a ticket to Burj Khalifa (crazy how in the most hi-tech world, they do not have online reservation). For me, it was, okay, I can possibly do it. And I did get them the ticket, sent it to their hotel yesterday, and today I was able to talk to her... This is fun!
It may be a long shot to meet someone as good or as sincere as these bloggers, mind you, there really are nasty bloggers out there. But isn't it nice to help out a fellow Filipino, even with such a small request.
Oh, we're finally meeting come Saturday here in Dubai! :)
