Speaking as someone who not only has met a few of my friends online but also my husband, I know what you mean by the whole squicking at the rents having a bad reaction to it. And seriously, if you can avoid that, all the better.
My best advice would be like Dor said. Explain that there are a group of women that you have met through a common interest, creative writing, and that after six years a few of you have decided that it's time to get together and talk in person instead of via a messageboard, email, phone and messaging systems. I don't think they freak out so much when you explain that they're not people that you've just met, that you have taken a long time to get to know them not just of their work but who they are as well, and after such a long time of talking it's really difficult to maintain a persona that is consistent.
Even though you may be a little more quiet and reserved offline, I imagine that get you in a room with the girls and you'll be exactly as you are on here. The traits that you show on here are inside you, you just don't unleash them unless you're in an environment that you feel totally comfortable with. IE in a semi-annonymous setting such as what we have here. It just depends on your level of comfort. When Suj and I first met, we were both a little more quiet and nervous but now that we've done it a few times, it's just like it is on here.
My rents never understood that I didn't want them to know about what I did online, that it was a haven for me, and somewhere that I could be exactly who I wanted to be without the judgment or persecution that comes from disapproving relatives. But then i guess if I had explained a little more, it wouldn't have gone as sour as it did. Also, bear in mind, your rents are like a gazillion times nicer people than mine are.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-05-31 08:50 am (UTC)My best advice would be like Dor said. Explain that there are a group of women that you have met through a common interest, creative writing, and that after six years a few of you have decided that it's time to get together and talk in person instead of via a messageboard, email, phone and messaging systems. I don't think they freak out so much when you explain that they're not people that you've just met, that you have taken a long time to get to know them not just of their work but who they are as well, and after such a long time of talking it's really difficult to maintain a persona that is consistent.
Even though you may be a little more quiet and reserved offline, I imagine that get you in a room with the girls and you'll be exactly as you are on here. The traits that you show on here are inside you, you just don't unleash them unless you're in an environment that you feel totally comfortable with. IE in a semi-annonymous setting such as what we have here. It just depends on your level of comfort. When Suj and I first met, we were both a little more quiet and nervous but now that we've done it a few times, it's just like it is on here.
My rents never understood that I didn't want them to know about what I did online, that it was a haven for me, and somewhere that I could be exactly who I wanted to be without the judgment or persecution that comes from disapproving relatives. But then i guess if I had explained a little more, it wouldn't have gone as sour as it did. Also, bear in mind, your rents are like a gazillion times nicer people than mine are.