Taking SL to RL..

Ok I have to add that the guy is paying my flights and hotel for 2 weeks..

We have agreed to meet as just friends, and if something develops fine, if not he wants me to still have a great holiday and we gained a friend. Has plans for Disneyland, cruises the opera..

I have to go - we are so very close and we have to find out.

Over 2 years ago I met my current fiance Madison, we started out hanging in SL then messaging, after a few months we were webcamming with each other, approximately 6 months after first meeting I took the 'big' step and came to visit her in the US, we had a great time.
Now we have plans to get married later on this year and both of us couldn't be happier.

so see sometimes it does work out! Still one month is a very short time to know someone ... so be careful.

I went to meet Richie in rl in march, we'd been together for 6 months before we met up . I flew all the way over from the US to Ireland,Dublin to meet him, and it was the BEST 3 weeks of my life, We hit it off the second we spotted each other (I was hella nervous though of course, and so was he).
It was a blast all in all, and we're still together now working on a more permanent move (though I'm coming to visit again in September) I still have school to finish.
It's like 9 months for us now, or almost 9 months <3

It worked out for us and I hope it works out for you too
distance sucks though, you'll need ALOT of patience haha.

It was a risk I guess, flying half across the world alone to meet someone, ^-~ but It was a good impulsive choice, and I don't regret it.

I had a bad experience that actually turned good. I was on another "online" game for almost a year and a half and I met this "girl" there. We hit it off right from the getgo. We both liked the same movies, books, etc. We made plans after awhile to meet up and I took a week off work to go and meet her. We had talked a few times on the phone and everything seemed to be fine. I fly to where she was and come to find out it was a guy the whole time. When we had talked on the phone he had sounded like a female due to him having a very light voice. Needless to say I was devestated. He was gay (which I am not) and really liked spending time with me. At first I was really mad, after spending all that time thinking he was a she and spending time and money to go and meet this person to find out they had been lying to me the whole time. Well after I got back home and settled down we talked again and we are the best of friends now. He understands what he did was wrong, and I understand why he did what he did. All I can say is, just be careful...just because you think you know someone doesn't always mean you do. Listen to what others are telling you and be safe. Good luck and I hope it works out for you two!

I should be flying out in around 5 weeks.. I will be sure to let you all know! Life's too short not to try...

These contraptions are very cheap:

I met an awesome friend online (not in SL) just online in a chat room chatting about gardening. She happened to live in Fort Lauderdale and we ended up meeting and have been friends for years now.

I think it's important to meet in a public place and to be cautious. Let other people who care about you know who you are meeting, where you are meeting and when you are meeting. Call them when you get back. Let them know when you are expected back so that they can call someone if you don't show when you are expected back.

The thing about the internet is there that so much focus on safety when meeting someone - yet people go to bars and leave with someone they hardly know and think nothing of it.

Seriously - I have a single friend who goes to this meat market bar in Fort Lauderdale and meets these guys who she gives her phone number to. They pick her up at her house the next day and then take her on a date, driving her in their car and she hardly knows them.

Sometimes they go home with her the same night she meets them.

How is that less dangerous than meeting a stranger you have been speaking with online in a public place?

There are a lot of different touch points for stalkers and nut jobs and the internet is only one of them and people should not lose sight of that.

.

I met in RL an online love I had in There.com last April. We had known each other for a good while, wrote letters, made phone calls etc. I was 101% sure I knew her...WRONG!

I paid over £500 and endured a 13 hour flight to find out I had been duped by a total liar! >

As soon as I clapped eyes on her at the airport, I knew I had made a big mistake and almost ran back to try and get the next plane home. However, I thought "screw it! I'm here now, I might as well party!"


This was the 3rd person I had met from the net, and the 3rd girl that had fed Me carefully processed bullshit! And this coming from someone who is really good at sussing people in RL!

It sounds like you have already made up your mind to go, and I wish you the very best of luck, both of you

Just be sensible and take those precautions everyone has listed on this post. And maybe let us know when you get back, so we all know your not now part of his patio?

Irony is, I so wanna meet my SL partner in RL, but it seems that ain't gonna happen.

*sighs* Life is rough sometimes!

Bulldog

You are so right about that. It took 10 interminable months between our first real life meeting and my SL love and beautiful wife to finally move in with me. 10 months of London to Toronto relationship dealing with the time difference, missing the other and the cost of visiting once in a while (got lots of airmiles though ).

In the end it's been well worth it. We couldn't be happier or more in love. Yay!

Wendel

Last Saturday I met a dear friend from SL. He drove the 2 hours of so to come to pick me up and we went out for a day together.

I was nervous. We had known each other in SL for 6 months, talked on Skype, he had seen me waving on webcam, but I had only seen two pictures of him. Would we be like total strangers in real life? I am not very confident about my looks, would he take one lglance at me and run?? Maybe he was totally different to the guy I thought I knew?
But I did have to know.

And the moment he walked up to me, all cheeky grin, said hello and hugged me, well, I just knew he was indeed my friend of the past 6 months of so.

We had a lovely day. Really got on well together and it all felt like we had indeed known each other for a good while. He was certainly no stranger

We have both said we would like to meet again. RL is different to SL, things move at a different speed there for a start. We both want to just take it very slowly. I have no idea what our future could or will hold, but I know that I really want to find out.

One month is not long to meet someone, in my personal opinion. Especially with the distances and expense involved in meeting. If my friend and I had not got along either one of us could have gone home early easily enough. Do make sure you have a contingency plan just in case.

I was probably not as 'careful' as I always thought I would be in such a situation - I hopped into his car and went off with him, not exactly 'meet in a public place etc'. But as soon as I saw him, I just knew it was OK. *grins* See, I am still smiling now.

I've met four girls from SL, but I've only killed three of them. I'm not all bad.

if your gunna meet someone from sl in rl bring gun

And here I went with flowers. How silly of me.

Wendel

I have met Baccara Rhodes, and the Fair-Changs in RL. Nice folks.

one might argue that distance or not.. you need plenty of patience for me ^.^

but yes hun.. best 3 weeks of my life.

same thing with that guy you meet in the bar or the supermarket, not to be an alarmist but as a woman putting their address on anythign can be potentially dangerous.. true story i rented from a rent a center a long time ago, and ended up with a stalker, didn't even talk to the guy.. arghhh

Public places are best always regardless of where u meet them.

I have not yet met any SL-ers in RL but I have done something similar - travelled alone from the UK to the US to meet friends (several of them), that I'd previously met only in an internet community. I stayed in New York for five days, invited to stay in the home of one of them, and I also visited the Appalachian mountains for another five days.

It crossed my mind that it could have been a dangerous thing to do but it turned out very well, all the people I met were wonderful and I'd happily do it again. In fact I am planning on crossing the atlantic again next year (if I can find the money for it), to meet some other online friends for the first time in RL.

I have met one very good SL friend in RL. He has been to my area twice now, and we've done dinner, drinks, and live music. I hope we can do it again.

I have dated two girls I met online in RL. One from TSO, and one from SL. Both are wonderful people, the relationships were fulfilling, and didn't end shortly after meeting or anything like that. While niether lasted over 2 years, I wouldn't trade those times for anything, and we didn't end on bad terms.

Many people I speak to out in RL get really nasty about it if I mention having dated girls I met online, as if it's just SO wrong. They seem to assume you can't find someone in RL, and are desperate (I have met past girlfriends offline, so that's really a bunch of crap). I don't understand how meeting someone, whether it's through a friend, at work, a newspaper, what have you, is any more "RL" than meeting them on the net. The net is part of RL, is it not? It seems some have this strange ingrained prejudice/phobia which causes them to compartmentalize in a very rigid manner. I don't get it.

I think there's something to be said for spending a few weeks or months learning about each other online, on the phone, exchanging photos, exploring likes and dislikes, each other's histories, and so on. It really adds to the excitement of when you finally get to meet that person. Plus, you have a good sense of who you're dealing with, usually.

As far as how to approach the first meeting - it's pretty much what feels right for each individual. The first girl I dated came to the area I live in and brought her mom with. They got a hotel room, and we spent about a week getting to know each other. Shopping, movies, dinners, etc. We included her mom in most of it. After about a week or so, mom decided I was a decent guy and she flew home. Then, the gal and I spent a wonderful two weeks together, with much more to come in the future.

The second I met - she just picked me up at the airport, and all was well with that too.

Just make sure you feel comfy - trust your instincts, especially if you're a woman. There are some weirdos out there, I know a gal who was nearly raped by one who staged a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. So make sure you have a mobile phone, and that friends and family know exactly where you will be staying. Bring a friend or family member if you have any doubt. If he is worth meeting, he will understand.

Thanksyou so much everyone for your imput.. I am so glad to hear the wonderful success stories!

We have decided that for the first time, he will fly to see me in the UK.. in a few weeks! I am so nervous!

Ha ha

Cheers

Andrianna I met the most wonderful person on SL and I would go to see him in a heartbeat. I know everyone has their opinions about what to do and not to do but when you really feel a specail connection with someone you just have to go for it.

I met the most wonderful person in SL and we finally had our first date in RL last night. WE spent the last 2 months getting to know each other, phonecalls and whatnot. Well, last night we were so nervous about meeting each other, but we met in a public place and had a really good time.

When I first saw her in RL I was floored! She was really much more beautiful in RL than her pictures showed. I felt a little out of my league, but the spark we felt in SL translated easily into RL and we had a wonderful night of eating, movies, laughing and kissing. We definitley will be continuing our relationship in RL and I owe it all to SL.

But everyone here is right. I was sure to see her ID and she saw mine. Both my friends and hers knew exactly where we were and our names in case something happened. There are alot of sick people out there, but thankfully there are alot of good people out there too.
Just be careful, but don't let the opportunity pass if you really feel it's right.

Hello. I have been in SL for a long time now, and I understand you hesitation. Although the risk of it is high, remember. Nothing chanced is nothing gained. If it were not true, I would have boarded myself up in a hole a long time ago. haha. All I can say is, best of luck in your endevor.

LOL!

Hi Wendel,

I'm new to SL and intrigued to know how you and your wife met through Second Life. Were you actually a couple in SL?