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?
Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.
Yes! I seriously picture what everyone might look like. So many people on here I'd be honored to work with!! I would definitely love to have Esma's dog over for a playdate with my beloved furbabies! Ha!
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
I've met about 100 + members over the years, especially at AACN's NTI institute. Distributed allnurses pens to many Louisiana members and newbies during Mardi Gras travels across the state.
I met one person on here and we became really good friends. Several others I met as potential classmates before nursing school and eventually they became real faces. Most I am friends with still to this day but a couple of others were actually demons
I used to think this was very bizarre. How can you really know someone online?? I grew up just as the internet and home computers were becoming a common thing (didn't have a home computer with internet until I was in 7th grade) so there was a massive emphasis on the dangers of online interactions. I was also quite sheltered and had a morbid imagination so I viewed the internet as a cesspool of predators.
My boyfriend on the other hand grew up online playing multiplayer games and some of his closest friends are people that he has never met in person. It's still strange to me, but not as strange as before. With Facebook and other networking sites it's easier to verify someone as real/genuine than it used to be. People can still misrepresent themselves and create fake accounts, but it's not as easy.
In general online interactions (facebook included) I do believe people misrepresent themselves to an extent. It's not even intentional sometimes. We filter out what part of our lives that we want public or not and understandably that ends up not being an accurate picture of us as a whole.
I really take everything online with a heavy spoon of salt.
It's true. Unless you are a knee jerk poster, no one on the internet needs to see you when you snap!
Since I help moderate some of the forums, I have had the pleasure of meeting all of the site administrators, several of the other moderators, a few guides, and some of the registered members when we meet once yearly at the annual NTI Critical Care Convention to work the Allnurses.com booth.
As others have previously mentioned, next year's NTI convention will be in San Diego. Join us if you want to uncloak some of the mystery behind the Allnurses.com mod squad and basically have a great time.
laKrugRN
479 Posts
Yes! I seriously picture what everyone might look like. So many people on here I'd be honored to work with!! I would definitely love to have Esma's dog over for a playdate with my beloved furbabies! Ha!