I was very fortunate and honoured to have been at the 32nd Bahrain Bloggers Gathering for the very first time (how about changing it to BBB Bahrain Bloggers Breakfast? lol) and managing to see most of the bloggers in my ‘bloggers-I-would-like-to-meet-in-person’ list.
My previous experiences with meeting people I’ve got to know over the Internet are mixed. A couple of years back in my internet forum glory days ( to the point that I got ridiculed for spending so much time moderating that bloody forum) I met up with some of the people from the forum, and to be blunt some people can be as fake as the nickname they hide behind.
It’s amazing how much you can show or hide in that matter behind the anonymity of the internet, either putting up a facade and ‘perfect personality’ or just pour your heart out shamelessly.
Ilhamdulillah, the bloggers I met didn’t dissapoint although being a wee bit shy at first, we managed to click and started chatting and laughing for a good two hours.
I’m definitely looking forward to the 33rd gathering and I would like to thank everyone who attended and I hope I gave you all a good impression as much as you have given me one!
Pic courtesy of malyousif
Yagoob, I would like to start by saying that I’m really frustrated that I missed the gathering, and hope to be there for the next one.
I have meet hundreds of people from forums and many of them are very good friends right now, I’ve been to other countries to meet people I know online and so far I haven’t been disappointed that much.
that doesn’t mean what you’re saying is incorrect, I actually agree with you that some try to hide their true nature when they are behind a keyboard, that being said, it shouldn’t be a general rule.
I happen to be a Member of the Leading Bahrain car enthusiast forum (www.gulfgt.com) that holds regular gatherings, meet ups, contests, car shows and much much more, I started posting there in 2003 and by now most of the friends that I see on daily bases are those whom I meet there or friends that I knew from before but got to know more from that forum.
lets just say, I love the Internet.
Nice post.
good to know
whose the sexy guy in the striped t-shirt in the photo?
yagoob, it was lovely to finally meet you, i’m glad you made it to the meeting. my experience is similar to eyad; these days a lot of my social life revolves around friends i’ve met through blogging, which i never expected when i started my blog. i feel that starting a blog was one of the best decisions i’ve ever made!
@eyad: You’re very lucky, my friend. It’s really disappointing to see someone you respect online and find out that they are completely the opposite of what they potray online. Meeting people online and becoming ‘real’ friends has become almost a normal occurance nowadays to a lot of people. I hope we get the chance to meet you at the next gathering inshalla
@ammaro: I dunno Why do you ask?
@battuta: It was a pleasure meeting you too, and once again thank you for finding my blog worthy to be noted in your Global Voices articles, and believe me those articles have given me a big boost to continue writing and to delve deeper in my ‘dabba’ lol, I look forward to seeing you at the next gathering and chat more ( I was too busy eating the delicious cake the last time lol)
After reading your comments, it made me wonder, if it weren’t for the internet would we all have been a bunch of hermits??
When I come to think about it, although chatting on the internet can be in the most un-social environments (in a room alone) yet some (including myself) can socially flourish and gain self confidence in a click of a mouse. Very strange. My boss saw me once chatting at work (well I do work for the government!) and found out that it was my older brother who lives abroad who I was chatting to, he just laughed and said you know more about what’s going on over there than what’s going on in the office next to you…
No, I don’t think we would be hermits! But the internet makes the process of finding friends with similar interests, both locally and all over the world, much quicker and easier. It’s just about making connections… And the way I see it, the fact that someone has made the effort to start a blog automatically increases the chance that I’m going to find talking to them interesting or meaningful.
Oh, I forgot to say, the Global Voices articles are a pleasure for me to do – keep on writing so I have good material!
Yes, I agree everything is just a click away, even new friends!