My Online Secret Relationships

OOooooooooooooo.
Got your attention? Katie thought the title sounded kind of creepy! When most of us think internet friendships/relationships, I think we do tend to think creepy. I’ve been very surprised at the quality people I’ve either met or come to know from online activities.

I’ve been a late bloomer in the online thing, specifically the level of comfort with trusting those you will interact with and even meet (professionally). You hear about all the weirdos “out there” meaning online. This blog is an example of kind of coming full circle so to speak as it is about as much as I have ‘put it out there” as I’ve ever done.

In one of the first forums I ever participated in, I would never post. I was what they called a lurker in web terms. Eventually I might make a short, quick post and leave. One of the regulars on that forum tagged me the Lurk. And that would become my forum name, philthelurk. It is still that today, six years later. And the person that gave me that name is now a friend.

Surprisingly, over the last six or so years, I have made some pretty good friends. Now, these are not necessarily friends in the traditional sense as most I haven’t actually met in person, but there is a level of knowledge about them and connection with on various levels that would be considered a friendship.

Interestingly, the first time a group of us actually made plans to get together, it was very interesting because even though none of us had ever met in person, we knew so much about each other. There was a level of “knowing” and we acted just like friends would meeting at a Friday afternoon social.

So who are these “weirdos” many my age think are found on the internet? Let me list them in the order I met them (as best I can).

  1. Steve — Webmaster of ColoradoGuy.com. Actually, most of these characters were met there. Steve is a humorous, interesting guy that has developed a website that chronicles his life. I had read an article about him in the paper, visited his site and found it entertaining. You have to take it tongue in cheek. If i recall, it was a post about his criticism of beat-up Chevy pickups that lead to my meeting him with my 1955 Chevy. Steve has become a good friend and is presently Biking Across America. He will be my first interview for Personal Achievement.
  2. Pikes Peak Denise — The infamous character that tagged me The Lurk. She is a neat person. I have met Denise and purchased one of her very cool photographs. It was The Willows. She has a beautiful family. She also has taken one of my favorite pictures of Pikes Peak. See it here: PIKES PEAK
  3. Lisa/Rich — A neat couple that followed their dream from Florida and found themselves in a small Colorado gold mining town. They were of great encouragement in understanding my challenges when dealing with the challenges of owning a restaurant.
  4. Kansas Kelly — A creative and cranky (not really) young gal from Kansas. The first time meeting her she was a bit taken back that I knew so much about everybody and associated my nickname Lurk with something like that of a stalker! I only knew everything about them from what they had posted about themselves. It was humorous.
  5. Florida Pete — Probably the most like me of anyone I’ve met online. We have much of the same past having grown up in the same town going to high schools within miles of each other, hold very similar political beliefs, etc. I now reside in the city he once lived when he had just gotten out of the service. I will admit, he is smarter and has a keen sense of humor, but for the record, I have the superior hair. ‘Nough said.
  6. DaveO — From New Mexico. Met recently in Ouray, Colorado. DaveO is now a student and a survivor of serious bike accident that almost resulted in the loss of his leg. He has been an inspiration. I hope to include his story in the Personal Achievement series.
  7. Amy (Little Amos) — One of the most positive members in the online community. Always has a nice thing to say. Lives in Kansas.
  8. Rhonda — From Arkansas. Very Southern, in a good way!
  9. Brandi — Amy’s sister and now lives in Arizona. The AZ group will hike someday.
  10. MtsRool Lisa — My first Contest winner! Lisa, her husband Jay, and three kids moved from OK about a year ago to follow their dream of living in the Colorado Mountains. She is known for her fun personality. She usually doesn’t CAAAARE. She has a blog here, where you can find her complaining about the tough life she has skiing in Telluride!
  11. Glenda — Lives in Texas with her husband who teaches middle school and sounds like some of the interesting (in a good way) science teachers I have worked with in my past. Glenda bravely drove by herself over Red Mountain Pass to meet all of us. It was funny to see how fearful a flatlander could be about the Colorado mountains.
  12. Scott — Another good guy that I’ve come to get to know. The only reason I play in a trivia game, as he is one I can trounce. (slightly exaggerated.)
  13. Tom/Cigarman — Quite humorous and we may get a chance to meet this summer when I am in Florida to cruise. We plan to have a cigar and martini.
  14. Viv — Lives in Singopore and is often just amazed at American customs. She was a great sport in participating in our Fantasy Football league and did awesome considering she knew nothing of the game! I will note my team did overcome her team in a hotly contested battle. Sorry, Viv!
  15. Julie — From south Texas. Have not officially met but a fun online community member.
  16. Shana — from San Diego. Smart and thinks San Diego is it. She owes me a happy meal.
  17. Joel — from Tuscon. I hope to meet Joel soon to explore the desert with. Really knows the climate and environment here in Arizona. Famous for his belief that life doesn’t begin till it’s 105 degrees.
  18. Deb — Met Deb recently at Wealthy Affiliate and found her to be a very helpful and genuine person. She put together a series of free videos helping the person who is just getting started negotiate the road through all the techno babble that can be really confusing to us.
  19. Toni, Jenn, Nerdo, Bloom, Nick, Sarah, Jason,
  20. Tote, Lars, Dee, Wildflower are just a few more that I have had some contact with and all quality people.

All the above are people I come to know from the online community. I hope I haven’t left anyone out. Included in this group are three lawyers, students, survivors of cancer, business owners, young, older, Norwegians, and others to come. I would say there would be very little chance I would have ever met any of them otherwise. Pretty normal people.

It’s been good getting to know you guys and I look forward to continuing the friendship — even with the occasional weirdo!

Friends

(Ouray, September 2007. Left to right: Kansas Kelly, Rhonda, Glenda, Scott, DaveO, Kelly, Julie, Steve, Phil.)