If it was someone I talked to all the time on here, I would certainly say hello ... especially if it was a chance encounter (it would have to be as I wouldn't go looking for anyone). If they were uncomfortable talking to me, that's fine .... some people are only comfortable with little boxes like this one. I wouldn't do anything that I knew would make them more uncomfortable ... but if I could see their discomfort, I'd certainly keep it short.

> Would you go and talk to someone you hadn't met in real life but had met on tribe?

I say G'day to strangers, someone I know from Tribe, of course I would say hello.

>Has anyone you have met turned out differently to what you expected?

Assume you're asking if online friends are vastly different in real life. Unfortunately, I haven't met many online friends (only 2 to date) and they were both pretty much as expected.

Since I live in the SF area, I am ALWAYS seeing Tribers on the street. It's a little bit surreal, sometimes, because I feel like I know them, but then realize that I don't <lol>. Anyhow, if it were someone that I normally speak to on Tribe, I'd definitely say hello, but if I simply recognize them and we don't usually interact, I don't.

I've met lots of Tribers, and they've always been pretty much exactly as the presented themselves, but I can imagine a few reasons why someone could be taken aback by a surprise meeting: perhaps they were on an errand of some importance; or they'd been having a bad day; or they are simply the kind of person who is more comfortable interacting online than face-to-face (on of my best RL friends is like that). I hope that it didn't feel personal, when that person that you met was awkward about the meeting.

I would likely debate it in my head for too long and they'd escape before I actually decided to go up and say hello.

Add me to the list of shy folk. Were I to be approached, I'd likely panic, start giggling fiercely and then babble a whole stream of stuff, like my home address, social security number, mother's maiden name, bank account number, ATM pin number, names of all of my family members and how to locate them... etc.

I sort of suck at living up to the old Don Lockwood motto.

>> Would you go and talk to someone you hadn't met in real life but had met on tribe? <<
It would depend on the situation at the time. Often when I'm out and about I have very limited available time, and so that might stop me from saying hello. Also I'd look to see what the person I recognize is up to. If they are rushed, I'd probably not introduce myself. If they are busy with other people I might not either. But if the opportunity for introducing myself is there, I'd probably do so, especially if it were someone I share a tribe with and know they read my posts as well as me reading theirs. If it was someone I've seen is on Tribe but I've never posted to a tribe I know they read, I'd probably act as though I don't recognize them, and certainly not introduce myself.

>> Has anyone you have met turned out differently to what you expected? <<
Not really. But meeting them in person added to what I already knew about their personalities from Tribe. At least the people I've met so far have all had photos of themselves available on Tribe, so their appearances were not a surprise.

I'm remembering now that I have met an aerialist that I originally came across on Tribe. I had forgotten about that before. Yes, I introduced myself and let it be known that I found out about the skill share and his location from Tribe.