Smart and Safe Ways to Make Friends on the Internet
Making friends in a new city when you don’t know anyone isn’t the easiest thing. However, it is easier than you may think. This Survivor moved here about seven years ago from New Jersey. I wasn’t in school, which is often an easy way to meet people, and I felt a little silly trying to pickup girls at the bar to be friends with. So, I started to think perhaps the Internet would be a good way to meet other cool gals to chill with. It works for dating right?
Thus, I started a girls group on myspace. I was able to look up girls within a close radius to me and within my age group and I started reading their profiles. From what I read, some of them and I had a lot in common, so I emailed them and told them of my idea to meet others gals in the area. After that we met up for a night of girl talk and drinks, and now one of them is one of my best friends here in California, years and years later. I know now most people use facebook, not myspace, thus the search options may have changed, but it always worth a try.
Another way to meet people via the Internet is a website called Exercisefriends.com. It’s nice because from the beginning you and the people you are searching though all have one thing in common; you want to get in shape! A few years ago, I also met another one of my closest friends on this site, and both of these gals will be lifelong friends of mine, and I am uber lucky to have them in my life.
The web can work to help you find true friends. We're proof!
I usually recommend to always meet for the first time in a public place where you can feel safe. Never give people your home address until you have met and feel comfortable. Also, do not be discouraged if you do not hear back from people especially in facebook or myspace. Some find it very odd to message people out of nowhere, but if they don’t give you a chance, then perhaps they aren’t the kind of friends you really want anyway. Just remember be open minded and what our parents once taught us…if at first you don’t succeed try, try again. If you follow these ideas this big city doesn’t seem nearly as big. Good luck! – Alison Boyle
Other sites to try to meet friends:
Safety Tips for Meeting People Online:
1. Make sure someone knows who and where you are meeting your new friend, and meet in a public place.
2. Keep your first meeting short. Meeting for coffee is a good way to start.
3. If you feel even a little uncomfortable, bring a friend with you.
4. Don’t give out too much personal information until you see each other face-to face. Even create an email address just for these kinds of searches. If you can, don’t give out your cell phone number until you meet.
5. Always be cautious. While you don’t want to live paranoid, the Internet does provide a barrier for those looking to take advantage of people. Be aware and cut contact if you feel uncomfortable.
Comment by tarheel1 — August 23, 2010 @ 11:04 pm
…oh that picture…ugh.
Seems like I’ve found a lot of things online – apartments, furniture, jobs, bikes, pets, men… and “you people”