One of the saddest things I saw online the other day, was a twitter post that announced how this man’s human interaction was zero, except for when he’s online. His response to a follower who asks him a question, that it’s been that way for four months. The first thought that came to my mind was that, well, if I was in that situation, I’d not only smell but probably be bored with porn by then. I need some kind of interaction, even if it’s with the woman at the register of some store. That’s at least something. But this guy, maybe for work, I didn’t care enough to go into too much research, has been alone for the last four months with nothing but a monitor to keep him company. No matter why he’s doing it, that’s still sad.
Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.netThat little Twitter exchange compells me to check out a web site that my coworker had suggested to me where you meet people online to do stuff. She does it for her hiking group and for people in music and what not, so I figure, I could find some group to meet up with for sure. I later find out my sister had done the same thing, and she highly recommends it. So here I am, looking through the bits and pieces of these meet ups, and there are more than the one site I’m looking at, which I’ll post a link at the end, but it’s fascinating and at the same time, a revelation.
These are equivalent to clubs in College High School. I dont’ know why I capitalized those, but yeah, you pick and choose and join these groups and meet up with them on a monthly or weekly or some kind of time frame basis and you do something together. You have a meal, attend a seminar, play a game, or do a whole assortment of different things all for the sake of meeting people. Why haven’t I thought about this before? With the internet trying to get people together online, with Google Hang Outs and Facebook chat, it actually kind of blew my mind that there is this popular enough service to get people together in person.
You may be thinking I’m an idiot, and I wouldn’t deny that, but yes, I am surprised this service exists despite the fact that services like this have existed forever, but that’s the power of the internet. You get sucked into those social networks, and those video sites and those streaming sites, where people prefer the convenience of meeting up at their laptop more than driving out somewhere. You hear about it all the time with people having long distance relationships, friendships, and communities, because it’s all just so easy. So that’s why this concept of meeting up in person is so surprising. It’s so…analog.
There are a few pit falls for doing these meet ups that I would never have thought of if my sister didn’t mention it. It’s expensive. The actual site itself is free, and joining those groups are free, but the events aren’t always of the non-payment fair. So if you’re ready to pay for dinners, coffee, admission to places, and things like that, then it will be worth your while to meet up with new people, network and grow your acquaintances or friendships. Maybe it’s a small price to pay to have something that helps you meet new people, and in person, so there you go. It’s also great for those who are moving into a new city or a new state. Right off the bat, if you go on these sites and you’re new in town, you’ll find a quick way to fit in other than school or work or the witness protection program, whatever your reasoning is to move to a new place.
I just started this new venture, so I have nothing to say about it from a personal stand point, but from those who have done it, say it’s a great tool to find like minded folk who you can actually relate to. And as a host of Geek Love Radio, I totally recommend this as another way to find relationships or in the very least, find a new person to talk to. No matter the reason, don’t spend the next four months not talking with or interacting with another living human being, take advantage of these sites and go out there. Unless you have a ton of friends, acquaintances and networking people, then save some for the rest of us, even if there’s plenty to go around.
Sites to check out:
- Meet Up.com
- High Light Adventures
- Hmm, just start off with those two, since the rest I found were really dating sites, and yeah…
