When I first started my blog, ideas such as getting comments, exchanging emails and other aspects of social networking were not even on my radar. I simply wanted to get back into writing more regularly. Of course, slowly comments came (once in a while) and emails were exchanged with like-minded individuals.
In terms of bloggers I know personally (off-blog) the list is rather small. Rabbi Harry Maryles and I often see each other walking on Shabbos and around town. I met Psychotoddler briefly after he finished a gig. Frumhouse and I occasionally run into each other, as well. There are bloggers who either know me personally or know of me through a spouse or friends. With readers, there are some I know personally and others do know me, but don’t always comment or reveal their true identities.
This past Shabbos I met up with several bloggers. Originally I had walked to a specific shul to, finally, meet Rafi G, who was in Chicago visiting family. Of course, commenter-brother Shaya G was there too.
After davening I ran into R Harry Maryles. Then during kiddush, I met the the author of How to Measure the Years (I hadn’t read his blog before, but have since read his posts), who was also visiting.
Of course, the next day I had thought of a few great lines that I should have used when I saw these people:
I’d like to post a comment about the Crown Royal.
Hmm, not much chulent left. I bet it got a lot of hits today.
I’m sorry I couldn’t wish you a ‘Gut Shabbos’ earlier, but I was a victim of comment moderation.
I even ended up spending time with one of these bloggers during my afternoon at the park.
As great as email is, there is nothing that compares to a handshake, a smile, and saying hello to someone. It’s nice to meet the people behind the blogs.
hahaha – I’m number 1!
anyway, at the least it’s nice to put a face to a name (or psuedo”name”).
I visit Chicago a couple times a year and am usually looking for something to do. I like your blog, so maybe one day I’ll get to meet you.
wow, it must be cool to actually meet a fellow blogger!
One day my friend, one day…
IY”H by us too!
-Dixie Yid
I can easily say meeting someone or speaking on the phone takes away the ‘creepiness’ factor of simmply emailing someone.
Thanks for the comments.
Since when is it creepy to email someone? Would you have been creeped out if I had emailed you to set up a meet, like I do with most bloggers?
TNSPR569,
For me, who was not brough up in the chat room/IM culture it was a first a little ‘creepy’, but then again if people knew what I looked like in High School, they would have called me creepy!
Amen, amen. Nu nu – you’ll just have to come to NYC… đ
I think it is for the best that you didn’t use those lines. đ