The real danger happens when you ignore/mistrust/degrade real life close relationships because they're less controllable and instead focus on remote 'friendships' which aren't really real.
You know that bumpersticker "I wish I were the person my dog thinks I am"? That's kind of how I see the Internet. You can be the best, worst, or just different version of yourself. When we recently had our Detroit Meetup I was a bit terrified to meet lil. I was worried that I wouldn't live up to whatever my "Internet self" was in her eyes. Thankfully, she assured me that I did meet her expectations. (they must have been low). She also told me that I was more handsome in person, which was nice... but makes me want to never post a photo of me online again. At least she didn't call me short, right b_b. Regarding being a different version of yourself, many of us do this with our different groups of friends too IRL and online. I don't know... I'm increasingly of the thought that there is less and less of a difference between the two types of interactions.
It looks like I lose no matter what I say. So I'd better get things straight here once and for all, subject to backtracking, rewriting, editing, misspeaking, apologizing and so on. 1. tng said to someone earlier in the day, before I showed up, that he could never be as amazing as lil thinks he is. You are not only as amazing as I think you are, you are more amazing than I think you are and my expectations were very high. How amazing were you: Well in the first place, you brought your father and your sister. In other words, you are connected to real people, not just us imaginary friends. 2. you and mk paid for dinner. Sweet. 3. you managed to find one picture where I didn't look totally awful (the one with the hat). So you see, your amazingness is really all about me.
and for the record, the whole group, even ecib b_b were shorter than their internet selves which are GIANTS of towering intellect, compassion, generosity, and love. None of you could ever be as tall as your internet selves. Even the impressive theadvancedapes is shorter than his internet self. I hope I also appeared shorter than my internet self. I hope IRL I appeared much much older than my internet self or younger. Either one. I wasn't really afraid to meet anyone. I am not interested in appearing shorter, taller, older, or younger. I yam what I yam as popeye said. It was a long journey and continues to be a long journey. By the way, the meetup and all things Detroit continue to come up in many conversations. When people ask how it all began, I always say it began with the Higgs-Boson. Interesting video, btw.
BTW, thank you lil. It was incredibly nice meeting you. You have no idea. Also: I wonder if you have heard the Higgs Boson Blues? http://grooveshark.com/s/Higgs+Boson+Blues/5308So?src=5 I can't get it out of my head...When people ask how it all began, I always say it began with the Higgs-Boson.
Nick Cave is kind of an amazing and dark (less so now than in the beginning and middle of his career) poet. His musical catalog spans quite a range, -a you might love one album but hate the next. His newest album in particular (Push the sky away) is extremely poetry-centric and mindbogglingly good imho. I think it's all up there on grooveshark, and if you check out the whole album I strongly suggest looking up the original track order on the web and listening in that order :) I saw him perform this live and it was electric.
Yes, right. Little backstory. It took a major adolescent growth spurt for me to get to 5'8", which is on the short side of average, but not too small (I think average is 5'10", or thereabouts). But before I grew at a freakish pace for about a year or two, I was the small kid. All the older kids used to rip on me constantly during latchkey (nickname: Smallfry). Looking back, it was good natured ribbing, but I was super sensitive about it at the time.