Do you ever wonder about what it would be like to meet or speak to other members?

4 Let me start by saying this thread is meant hypothetically only....I am not in any way trying to meet/hook up with/solicit (whatever you want to call it) anything or anyone. I am a happily married person with a wonderful family and am content and fulfilled with my life. I respect the fact that this site strives to maintain as much anonymity as possible for everyone's safety and comfort. I think we all can appreciate a safe, respectable place to ask questions, vent frustrations and state our opinions.

Okay, now that I've stated my disclaimer, on to the topic.

I've only been a member of AN for a few months, but I've interacted with a few individuals who are very engaging and share many of my personal views. Now, I am fully aware that there is no guarantee that, on the internet in general, the person that you are communicating with is representing themself truthfully. For the sake of this thread, however, let's give everyone the benefit of the doubt that they are being forthright.

I found myself recently thinking, "Wow, he/she just took the words right out of my mouth with that post!" or "I bet we'd get along really well if we knew one another." Let me say that I do realize that on this site, we have to be somewhat vague in order to protect our and our patient's identities and therefore have many more aspects to our lives beyond what we post.

So, do you ever wonder about what it would be like to meet in person or swap numbers with and talk to that person on the end of the keyboard? Or maybe you actually have?

I have added a poll (I tried, so I hope it works) so that commenting is not required if you wish to respond but not go into any detail (I'm unsure as to whether revealing identity to another member for the purpose of getting to know one another better for friendship purposes violates TOS). Please comment if you wish. I've been wondering if it's just me or if others have had the same thought. Hey, you can never have too many friends, right?

Thanks for your input! Last edit by ICURN3020 on Sep 9, '14
I think as a new nurse I'd have a lot to learn from fellow members and often imagine I could brainstorm with them and just learn more...just my two cents though

There are several people I would love to be able to meet. Most of them are "Guides" or "Moderators". Some have less experience than I but seem so much wiser than I feel.There are also some members in the recovery forum I'd love to get to know since I'm in recovery myself.

It's funny how you develop a picture in your mind of the person based on the things that they say (in this case type). I'm always way off. I am not speaking of meeting people that I have met via the internet - not for me (I just said to my husband the other day, "Thank goodness we met and married before internet dating became a primary way to meet people." I'd probably be single forever Anyway, back to my point....this has happened with a few radio deejays that I listened to on a regular basis. I had a picture in my mind and was quite surprised when they actually looked nothing like I thought.

I have met in person a lot of people that I first met online. Some have turned into great friends, others not so much.

Quote from ICURN3020It's funny how you develop a picture in your mind of the person based on the things that they say (in this case type). I'm always way off. I am not speaking of meeting people that I have met via the internet - not for me (I just said to my husband the other day, "Thank goodness we met and married before internet dating became a primary way to meet people." I'd probably be single forever Anyway, back to my point....this has happened with a few radio deejays that I listened to on a regular basis. I had a picture in my mind and was quite surprised when they actually looked nothing like I thought.

There are several members here I think I'd click with well in real life. I think an Allnurses meet and greet would be amazing! I have met a few people in person from other forums.

I've met several members at NTI in Denver. And, on other websites, I've met long-term (been online acquaintances > 3 years) cyberfriends in VERY public places (baseball game) and started some really nice personal friendships that way.

I think my uneasiness with meeting up with someone whom I know only through our internet correspondence stems from me watching one too many real-crime shows I love forensics and if I had not become a nurse, I likely would have chosen that career path. I work in a not so great area of town (parking lot carjacking at gunpoint, robberies, all sorts of undesirables come out at dark) and am the type to peer under my car as I walk towards it and peek in my backseat once in the car. Leave your car window down at the closest gas station (which I avoid if at all possible) and there's a good chance someone will come asking for money/cigarettes. Heck, sometimes they just tap on the glass if it's rolled up. I don't live in fear but I am always super-aware of my surroundings, at work, the grocery store.....doesn't matter. My children know to kick out the tail light from the inside if ever forced into a trunk so other drivers will see their foot and (hopefully) call 911. I have friends whose kids will tell a total stranger their full name, age and address because they dont know any better. They need to be taught (in my opinion), at an age appropriate level, that the world isn't all rainbows and sunshine and that some people aren't their friend. Okay, I'm getting off topic again A meet and greet would be fun! I can just see us all with our nametags with our usernames on them

Occasionally when I cannot find the support I need, or the "sounding board", but I tend to keep to myself anyway, so it just depends!! I think having this annomyous site is wonderful and if any of us ever want to meet that should be up to those individuals. I don't feel there can ever be too much support for nurses out there!!!

Lol @ our nametags with our usernames on them. And those we can identify by their color coded or brightly printed scrub tops. Would we be able to point out the crusty old bats? There are quite a few people on this site that I think I'd like to have as coworkers.

First of all I must say that I have known my wife on-line, in an italian nurses forum.Said this, I have met many users of other forum (all italian forum) that I attend.I have been member of AN for few weeks (my first forum in english), I have interacted with few other users so far and, since I live overseas at more than 6000 km of distance, I think that will be impossible meet somebody of you even if i would like visit/live the USA particularly the state of Alaska.Therefore, who knows, in the future I could visit/live in the USA and meet somebody of you (maybe Alaskan)Meanwhile I'm pleased about attending at this marvellous web site and "to speak" with nurses of other nationality and having the possibility to improve my english and my knowledge about other working and living realities.(As usual, excuse for possible grammatical or/and writing mistakes, and, if you want, correct me if I did)

I have met several members at NTI. It was at NTI that I met all the Admins for the first time. It is a strange experience......not saying the Admins are strange. LOL But you do get a picture of what you think they might look like and how they talk. But now I really look forward to NTI, as it is the only time the Admin team and some of the staff gets to be togetherBut I would love to meet more members. NTI is in San Diego in 2015. If any of you are located in the vicinity or are planning on attending, I would love to meet you!