I met my husband online. Things have worked out tremendously but that first meeting was really.. nerve wracking for about 30 minutes. We're both a little different than we seemed online; that just comes with the territory.. but our feelings transferred incredibly well. less

I have met a few people online, one girl I was with for a long time, and still talk to daily, one guy moved to OK, but I still see him when he comes to see his Mom, and we are still great friends, so it is possible and worth it even to make great friends. less

My boyfriend and I got to know each other pretty well through chatting online before we decided to start dating. We lived in the same town at the time and met each other (but didn't actually talk that much) at a convention. In fact, since he's so tall and pale, I was actually a little intimidated/creeped out by my boyfriend. However, over the next few weeks, we found each other online and started to talk. As we got to know each other better, my image of him changed from tall and creepy to large and cuddly. We eventually decided to start dating, and we've been together for over a year now. less

My state was SMALL.. so really, the people online, you saw over and over again. Does anyone remember Hot or Not? About 7 or 8 years ago it was really popular, people were all over that shit like flies on honey. At the insistence of a friend I put my picture up... it wasn't the best picture but hey, it a very clear one taken with a digital camera and quality like that was hard to come by. Hot or Not had a little "meet me" section or some shit like that for locals and my husband actually saw my picture before we ever got to know each other and clicked "no" because, these are his words: "You looked like a bitch". He's really a sweet guy. His friend however, Navy guys all flock together, clicked "yes".

I got to know his friend through instant messenger and really didn't care for him. He was a pompous asshole and while I love jerks, there wasn't any sort of spark. I met his friend (my now husband) through him and there was immediate attraction. It was electric... and well, April 30th is our 5 year anniversary. I'm glad I took the chance with the shitty guy because it lead to something fantastic.

Trust me- our story changes every year as we've had to water it down for family and leave out a lot of the details (because 7 or 8 years ago meeting someone online was still considered taboo). Ask me the story again in 10 years and I'm sure it won't resemble anything of what I typed up here.

The overall summary is let the internet do it's job- connect people from all walks of life. If you meet this guy and he isn't Prince Charming, one of his friends might be. I've met a lot of people from online including one of my last bands and fellow musicians which led to a brief stint as a DJ on an unsigned website. I'm just saying, don't go in with the intention that it isn't going to led anywhere or if there will be nothing but insecurities- make sure to send as many photos as you can that way they don't get an unexpected surprise and ask them to do the same. With some people, it doesn't matter what you look like, however, it's always nice to see who you're chatting with.... and when taking pictures remember, NO MYSPACE ANGLES! less

We talked for about a year and a half.

I think that we were both able to put ourselves out there because of the anonymity the 'net allowed us and we probably got to more open parts of our relationship faster than we would have otherwise. I would have been a lot more withdrawn had it started any "traditionally."

There is some truth to the fact that relationships can (but not necessarily will) be built on something deeper/aside from looks. (Still, our relationship always has been super sexual). By the point that we met, we knew eachother REALLY well. It didn't come as much of a stretch that we would get married.

I think most people aren't so invested when they meet someone from the 'net. We weren't meeting for coffee and a donut - we met and he spent the night in my bed which was the plan. Heh less

Yah. We both talk about the day we meet in that same tone, even though we know we'll both be incredibly shy at first. Talking for a year and a half is a long time. Did you two ever have any disagreements/argument s/misunderstandings during that time? I ask because we've had 2 upsets, which can be incredibly hard to deal with when you are talking online. less

I met Taylor in a yahoo chatroom in 1998. We were friends but really not all that attracted to each other. (I think cuz we both come across like raging assholes online. Lol) We both went to OH to meet a mutual friend, to celebrate her birthday, in 2002. Seven weeks later he moved from WV to WI and we've been together ever since.

You just never know with online.

Take the chance.

Why waste more time if it's not going to work? Or waste more time talking online instead of face to face if the spark is there and he's the love of your life?

I don't even want to imagine where I'd be if I hadn't met Taylor when I did. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Just play it safe when you meet. less

I never really thought of it as long but.. we were both in HS when we started talking and it never was really an option to meet before we did

We tend to argue a lot. We're both very stubborn. It wasn't any different online. When that's your main mode of communication, it's a given that you can have disagreements even if you haven't met. It is difficult to deal with them online. One of us could always just sign off or ignore the other if we were feeling particularly spiteful - it's usually harder to ignore an argument face to face.

I don't know if this necessarily matters, but we considered ourselves to be dating for nearly the entire time we knew eachother online. We dealt with all the typical relationship crap and then some of the special circumstances of the online thing. less

Thanks. There are other things about our situation which make it difficult and also embarrassing to talk about (even online), but the biggest factor being I'm in Hawaii and he's in Seattle. The second biggest factors being that he is agoraphobic and has body dysmorphia. less