I have noticed of late that some members are attempting to contact one another in real life. While I appreciate this sentiment (I'd love to meet many of you in person), some of our members are minors, and most of our members do not provide easily verifiable credentials to connect a user profile to an actual person.

As such, I urge you to exercise a prudent level of background research on the person you are contacting here. One level of research you can conduct is asking for the person's real name and email address via a private message. There are tool for doing more research about a person - Zabasearch.com is one.

Always meet in a public place (the mall is always a good idea) and don't be too specific in where you're going to meet - just say "by the central fountain, I'll be wearing a blue shirt" - not "I will be at the Walden Books main entrance, wearing a Chicago Bulls Jersey and green sweats, I have glasses and blue hair and I drive an unmarked white van with no windows." - that way if the person gives you a bad vibe you can just keep walking.

Never meet in a car, or in a parking lot.

FWIW, I've met plenty of people In Real Life from my online activities - only once did I feel that things were "off" and that's a whole different story.

Do members of a region ever get together, as a group, to practice any skills or for any other reason?

I've never really thought about it before, but that is some good advice on meeting anyone IRL that you've met online.

What is this "real life" you speak of...?

The only time I've met online friends "in real life" was when I drove 400 miles to Kansas specifically for that. We all met at a shooting range, and everybody was armed to the teeth ... and then some. I think things were pretty secure around there! Of course we didn't take firearms just because we were meeting each other, ... after all, it WAS a two day shooting event we were attending! What a great bunch of folks and a super fun event. So don't avoid meeting others because of fear, you'll miss out on a lot of fun, but be sure where/how you're meeting is safe and secure.

I tried that "real life" stuff one time and boy was it a pain in the sitdown.

Anyhow, rule of thumb, if you feel "funny" about meeting someone, don't. And I echo Martin's post also.

I've met hundreds of people in real life from multiple forums, most all went well.

Doug's advice is great, and my personal advice is to don't meet someone you JUST met online. Get to know their "online" persona, and also do some google searches on their name, email, etc...

Meeting in groups is good too.

In my endurance racing life, I have met dozens of people that I only knew from online. In fact one just stayed with my family last week for 5 nights when she flew in for a race. Of course there really is no hidden life in that particular online environment.

On ETS for example or ZS, I haven't had a F2F with anyone, though I will say that the PM's, trades and purchases I have done with people have been exemplary. I would meet any of those people based on those interactions.

Key is to let others know what is happening in case of any 'drama'.

My family went to PHX two yrs ago and my son and I met DR himself, had a great lunch

BTW Doug what was the name of that restaurant?

Thanks

Mike D

Don't forget to come fix up my house... hehehe

LOL!

If anyone meets me, I'll be the one with the orange MK1 and large canister of bear spray.

And we'll meet in Virginia: The Gun State.

Or at The White House, in full view of the USSS.

Pays to be prudent but I remain optimistic about most peops.

;-)

I think Blast has had some folks meet up around there?

I've F2F'd some people when I was in college. Turns out cameras SUBTRACT 15 pounds!

Otherwise, I haven't heard of ETS-specific get togethers... though there was something in NY I think a year or two ago - but that might have been a different website.

+1

Several years ago I had a first meeting with a woman at a local bar. After we'd been talking for a few minutes, she waved to another woman who was sitting behind us. It was her sister and her sister's husband. Sharp girl.

If in the greater Sacramento, California area, check out The Sacramento Tracking and Wilderness Training Group on Yahoo. Come to a public group event and meet several ETS members. Bring whatever backup you want.

Wow, it was almost a year ago when I, Wildman, ClarkTX, Librarian, and kmat got together for beer and fried pickles. Need to do that again real soon...

Izzy, name the date and I'll name the place. Danger awaits!

-Blast

i recall a post a few years ago where some fellows here met up and spent a weekend camping with just their BOB's.a bunch of photos were posted of hasty shelters and smoky fires and it seemed to have worked out just great but i never saw any follow up.
by the way if your wondering why i'm up at 12:30 at nite posting away like crazy it's because the pain meds for my bum knee have not kicked it yet and i can't fall asleep--now thats a survival issue!!

And a good time was had by all!!!! Speaking of that, I should be back at that school in another year so we can try to meet up again for more beer, burgers, and the best darn fried pickles that I have ever had!!!

I can see how Beer-Batter Fried Pickles could make one drink more beer (that is the point isn't it?). I need to try this. . .

Other than meeting DR at the shot show. Have met a local ETS member, found a buyer for a car that he was selling.

On other forums i have bought items from other forum members and have not had any trouble. But i also was dealing with longtime forum members that had dealt with others in a positive manner.

I have had these wonders of the Gods you people speak of. Brings frying to a whole new level!!!