November 27, 2011
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Meeting People From The Internet
Three people have been killed after answering ads on craigslist. It is believed that a man posted ads about property and then shot and killed the people when they showed up. Here is the link: Link
This reminds me of a xanga meetup where we all ended up in the woods in the dark with people we met off the Internet. (I want it written on my tombstone, “Here lies an idiot that thought it was safe to meet people from the Internet).
I have met 69 people from xanga and probably a thousand from the Internet.
Is it safe to meet people from the Internet?
Comments (90)
Nah, everyone is clearly bad. Take it from me, the worse of the lot!
Btw, that guy sure was trying hard to look mean in his mugshot. His face actually looks like
As long as it’s done in a public location and you know the person well, yes.
Rarely. /Overly safety cautious.
No. It’s dangerous. It’s a bad idea. You’re going to get hurt!
Depends on where you met the person on the internet, and where you would be meeting them IRL.
@Roadlesstaken - I was afraid to meet you at first lol. And Andrew didn’t want me meeting you cause he was worried that you’d kill me D:
May I remind you: It was YOUR idea to go into the woods at midnight! I didn’t feel safe at all. I’m pretty sure there were spiders the size of dinner plates in those woods.
As long as it’s not from Craigslist. I’ve heard a lot of weird meetings from that place.
Oh look, a story from my neck of the woods! How lovely
Anyways… yeah, I’ve met Xangans, but no other online friends outside of Xanga. I think it’s decently safe, as long as there’s a fair amount of communication including cell-phone, email, etc. And, it helps to meet in a public place.
I’ve met so far two people from the internet. I found them on a dating site and we went out on a date. The first guy we met at a restaurant, had lunch, and then hung out at the bookstore. I texted my friend to tell her I was going and then texted her halfway through to inform her that I was still alive. The second guy I didn’t tell anyone about, but we met and hung out at the same bookstore, and there were tons of people around. Both of them seemed relatively normal (though I didn’t have a second date with either).
I’ve heard bad things about Craigslist in general, so I think if I was going to meet someone from that website I’d make sure to bring someone with me, even if it was for an apparent business transaction like seeing property. I don’t usually go on there, though. I do try to have more than a few online and offline (telephone, texting) conversations with people before I meet them, and I think I’d be okay with meeting someone on Xanga whose blogs I had read and with whom I’d had some conversations with. Random strangers, though? Yeah, no.
it’s safe for me… no one ever wants to take me out to the middle of the woods and murder me… i feel so left out.
I’m too far from anyone O.O
I guess I got lucky… I bought my car off of craigslist and the following week my bro’s car… I’m still alive…man, did I get lucky or what?
Oh and I meant a xangan recently… good thing it was public location and he wasn’t a natural born killer… haha or is he? Hmmm
It depends… better be safe than sorry!
@HeLLo_Bianca - Indeed, I so was going to kill you right there at the Japanese Buffet when we first met, but decided not to.
Not if they are in that great a need of an eyebrow trim!
Kathi
I guess if you feel you know them well enough. Don’t think it’s safe to meet random people on the internet, and certainly not on your own and not in a private environment.
I met my husband on the internet–through Xanga, actually. We’ve been together six years. Pretty sure he’s not going to kill me
No, you’re all a buch of ax murderers.
The reason why this is news is because it’s a rare event. If this were common, it wouldn’t be news (and nobody would be meeting anyone from the internet anymore).
How have you met a thousand people from the Internet? And yeah, I agree, it’s news because it’s rare. Some people get murdered going to the grocery store too, but I still buy groceries. What a psycho, if it’s him, glad they caught him.
@Roadlesstaken - Instead you elbowed me in the boob. How sweet!
I have met people from the internet… all FEMALE but of course. I shall never forget their huge intake of breath when they met me for the first time… the admiration… the desire. Oh what good times.
I try to play it safe.
I met my boyfriend online and we met in real life at the mall in SF. :3
Meeting people online is no different than grabbing lunch with a new co-worker or fellow classmate you just met. Crazy people find all sorts of ways to meet their victims. I’ve met several people from online, although a few were a little wacky, none so far have been harmful. I even spent a few days in Vegas with a friend I’ve known for years online and had only met one other time IRL.
no. the internet is full of creepers and weirdos.
@saintvi - HAHAHA I lol’d when I saw “May I remind you: It was YOUR idea to go into the woods at midnight”
haha
aww..now my typing is in this highlighted font. Well, I always thought as long as it’s in public and I’ve stalked them enough prior or talk to someone else about them, it’s ok
but I always carry a weapon of sorts just in case
I personally wouldn’t want to meet someone from the internet. But I was previously friends with a girl who was seduced with and ran away with a pedophile she met on WoW when I was 15, so I guess I am biased. I think things like that can happen.
it’s kind of the same as meeting someone at school in class and then hanging out with them. you never really know someone. just always take caution when you’re with anyone, doesn’t matter if they’re from the internet or not.
i’ve met one person from CL. she was really cool.
It can be. I suppose it depends where on the internet. I’ve gone to a whole other country to meet someone from the internet. I flew to another state last month for the same reason. Doing it again next month. Been doing it for years. I’ve met hundreds of people from the internet, and so far… I’m still here!
I think that if you do, you should have built up a friendship/relationship online before meeting face to face, and develop a trust. I would totally meet you Dan =]
I’ve met people from the Net, but I was very fortunate that they weren’t psychotic murderers. Still, I wouldn’t ever do it again, not even meeting in a public place.
i met my boyfriend through xanga. it’s been an entire year since and i don’t regret a thing.
If you do it right, yes. But you should be very very picky and establish a long-term friendship first.
Yes & No. It depends on who & where.
I’ve met a total of about… seven people from the internet in the past 12 years.
The first one I was an idiot. I actually met him in an unlit parking lot (where my car was) across from my university. *lol* (I had forgotten it was unlit or I wouldn’t have chosen that spot.) Luckily I’m still alive & haven’t had any brushes with danger.
Two of the seven were Xangans.
You must be cautious when meeting people irrespective whether it is over the internet of not.
@TheGiantSlayer - shut up, man, you’re blowing my cover
I have never met anyone I spoken to the internet.
Craiglist gives me the chills
Obviously you’re going to find some horror stories if you look for them. But really, meeting with someone you meet on the internet is probably no less safe than grabbing lunch or drinks or something with a new person that you meet in real life.
Hi… I’m new here and just kind of butting in where I don’t belong… can I ask why y’all met a bunch of internet people in the woods… in the middle of the night? Just….wondering lol
@Roadlesstaken - I know this is off topic. but can I just say I love your new default picture!
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting my Xanga friends IRL. I’d like to meet more. Not too worried about safety because my husband is always there.
as safe as meeting people in general….you could always get shot or raped or something.
So from your answer you’ve met about 1069 people from the internet and the amount will keep growing. All in your attempt to gradually infiltrate our souls and control our minds.
sure, it’s the same. some peeps are creeps and some are not. maybe just don’t go into the woods or any other dark places until you know them better. unless you want them to.. ooooo what did you guys do in the woods?
Its obviously not. But you are supposed to take precautions before meeting people on the internet, like meeting in a public place in your own cars. I didn’t do that, I just got lucky though. I met my boyfriend online and we’ve been together almost 4 years
Although it doesnt feel that long AT ALL.. There was also this rapist or something chatting with me once and the cops were watching out convo on the computer. I wasnt going to meet him though lol
Now… I don’t wanna meet anyone else, ew.
Depends on how you go about it. I met someone online and had my whole family around me when I did. He’s now my husband, lol. So it definitely can be safe. Not everyone is a crazy nutcase.
Always meet in a public place the first couple of times. But tread lightly. There’s some real wackos in the world.
It’s as safe as meeting then anywhere else. Just another medium. I’ve met tons of people through the internet. Met my second husband online and was with him for 18 years. Caught up with my current husband (who I dated when I was 18) online after not seeing him for 35 years. But just like anywhere, one must be a bit cautious. For example, I never met any of my online friends alone for the first meet-up. Always in a public place.
Not entirely, but neither is meeting anyone else. Just meet people in a public place and don’t give out too much personal information just in case they are loonies.
there was also the other craiglist killer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Markoff.
I’ve only meet one person from the Internet. This was back when myspace was cool and the person also happens to be my ex. What a mistake! Haha.
@Roadlesstaken - hahah it does.
I have met 2 people from the internet. 2 friends of mine who I use to role play with all the time. Now not the “dirty” role playing. but the writing style of role play. we use to rp wolves together. and I adore one of the girls. the other…. well shes a bit of a spoiled brat and id not so fond of how she chooses to treat “friends” but i still talk to her online. But the other I visit frequently.
I don’t recommend doing this. If you meet people, it probably should be in a populated public place, not in the middle of the woods.
It can be safe, you just have to be smart about it. Almost paranoid.
Yes, unless they’re from xanga. I heard that place is full of crazy bloggers
@sleeping_on_the_edgeoftheworld - Thanks! Although it’s not that new. I believe I’ve had it since..May I think?
I meet people from the Internet on the regular. It’s not something particularly frightening to me. People are people, just know how to take care of yourself should a situation arise.
They are the same people as off the internet aren’t they?
69 lol
Whenever I meet people from the internet I console myself with the thought, “what are the odds BOTH of us are here to kill one another,” so far it’s worked out.
No, just use the same precautions you take when you meet someone new in real life, you don’t know them either, and NEVER pick up hitchhikers. They’re bad news. I also have a sneaking suspicion some long haul truck drivers are serial killers, but, that’s never been substantiated.
@TheGiantSlayer - present company excepted, I hope? lol
Kathi
@Still_groovy - fraid not, lol. I’m bout as weird as they come
Being a little old lady makes me all to aware of how vulnerable I am so i never met anyone new without someone with em and always in a safe, public place like Dennys. I belonged to a support group on Yahoo for many years and have met three people from that group and they were, and are, wonderful people. There are a ton of good people, but the pervs and creeps are out there waiting for victims, and it only takes one.
Dan, let’s meet! ;D
lol but really I don’t think it is so safe to meet people from the internet. I have never done it before. The only way I would is if it was in a really public place & I’d lets some friends know ahead of time just in case.
I think it depends on how you know them, where you met them, whether you feel comfortable, how long you’ve known them.
OK, how about this: Meet in an actual police station and have a fingerprinting party.
Generally speaking I would say no, it is not safe.
you just have to be wary and cautious.
its kind of an unfair question, because when you meet someone you don’t know from the internet you’re taking a risk that they’re not the person you thought they were with the intentions you thought they had, but the same can be said about… a blind date for example, speed dating, meeting someone you met briefly for a date and then them killing you.
people are just dangerous in general!
I met my husband on the internet about 10 years ago, BUT I still think it’s very dangerous and risky. I also met my best friend on Xanga, but we had mutual friends so I knew she wasn’t psychotic or weird. I don’t know if I would do it now, on purpose at least… But, who knows.
yeah, i met a guy on myspace *shame* but we met up in a public place, and i made sure my friends knew what was going on and where i’d be. just don’t be stupid about it.
you’ll find them anywhere, people like this. The internet is just as safe as going to the library.
I’ve met a fair few people I’ve come to know online over the years. Bar 1 who I don’t think was dangerous, just extremely odd…the rest have been fine. It’s always best to stay safe and meet publically I think
Two people I met on the internet stayed with me in my sisters time share in Vegas. It was the first time I had actually met one of them!
Nope, internet people are scary!
@ItIsAllGravy didn’t kill me. Yeah, I was a bit bruised and sore but not dead.
I have met three people from online and 1 of them I am with now and I absolutely love him to death!
I have met people off of the Internet and had a couple of wonderful LTR’s as a result. You just have to follow the rules and here are some of them:
1. Always meet in a public place where there are other people around.
2. Always meet in a bar or a restaurant where they check ID’s. That way you know everybody is of age.
3. Always bring a friend along with you…especially if you are female.
4. Walk past the person you are meeting at a distance and if you don’t like what you see or if they are not who they said they are then just keep walking.
I met a guy from Xanga three years ago. He went from Texas to Florida to meet me. Now he is my amazing husband and my baby daddy.
I’ve met a few people from the internet. I’m super crazy about it though. It has to be in a public place at all times, I give my bestie the phone number/name of whoever I’m meeting, and I have to have been talking to them for awhile. I actually failed all of that with my current boyfriend. I picked him up from the airport and we went straight to his hotel and we only knew each other for like three months. I did tell people who I was with, where I was, and his number though.
Since I Am Xanga Epic Legend I Will Settle The Score.
Here’s How it Goes. If The Person Your Meeting off the Internet
Is Autogenes, An Organic Portal or a Tare
Then They Are Probably Trying to Do Something Horrible to You
Possibly Even Murder
If However They are a REAL PERSON, as in “People” yes People do still Exist
And Do Use The Internet it isn’t all Bots and Autogenes
So If It’s a “People” then You Will Be Fine and It Will Probably Enrich Your Life
At Least a Little Bit… Take advantage While it’s Still Possible through The Web
Very Soon it Will Not Be at All very Likely.
Epic Legends Forever.
And I Happen to be a Serial Killer
And I Have Met People through Xanga
And No
I Did Not Kill Them
But I Did Kill Thousands on The Way to Them
-The End-
It’s totally safe to meet people from the internet. The only thing you have to do is make sure to ask them before you meet whether or not they’re serial killers. If they say no, you’re good. Trust me.
This reminds me, I’m almost out of candy.
I met my boyfriend of 2 1/2 years on the internet, but I’ve also met enough creeps from the internet to know you have to be careful.
i think it’s safe…. for me. i wouldn’t let my little sister meet anybody up that she met on the internet without me going with her lol.
you’ve really met 69 people from Xanga?? I’m laughing at the 69………….
Depends on what site. I’ve met probably around a dozen people from Xanga and forums, and I’m still alive, and my life actually changed for the (much) better in part because of it.
I have met a handful of people from the Internet, and they have all turned out fine. But I also made sure to meet them somewhere, where it is public and if anything were to happen there would be people around. Not sure if I think it is the smartest thing though.
Depends on the site you’re on, but typically, no, it’s not safe.