Monday, October 22, 2007

When bloggers collide

Contrary to the opinions of many about meet-ups between those who know one another solely through the internet, Ant and I both turned out not to be 60-year old ex-cons.

(Wanting corrobarating evidence? Check out his artful assessment of me and our assorted hijinks. Though we really could both be working together as crafty ex-cons
..... So, anyone wanna come meet? I will make lemonade and we can have a pyjama party!)

As I mentioned in the previous post, still being a relative amateur at this blogging thing, my weekend encounter with the worldly Scotsman was my first attempt at blurring the boundaries between the blog world and my real life. And thus, though getting the sense through his comic but observant musings and our regular exchange of comments that we would likely get along rather smoothly in real life, my mind was also amenable to the possibility that the next five or so hours would have a substantial potential for awkwardness.

Perhaps it does speak to the power of this medium of communication that the most awkward part of the day was holding up a bright pink sign at the train station to aid in the recognition process. Once he sauntered through the gates, I'm quite sure that there wasn't more than a few moments of silence (mostly due to umbrella induced breaks in conversation while negotiating the rainy sidewalk) for the entire day. It did actually appear as though our online communications had served the same purpose as getting to know you conversations in the more typical venues/mediums.

One of the more interesting things was to actually have a conversation about the nature of blogging. As I've mentioned a few times previous, I am fairly invested in my anonymity. As such, those people in my day-to-day life aren't even aware that I am writing in any form outside of the academic, meaning that I don't really verbalize any issues that may arise in bloggie-land. Talking to someone who is a part of that network kind of validates these odd (but genuine) relationships I've found myself in. I started literally laughing out loud when I referred to myself by my blogger name out loud-- it sounded so very strange to refer to oneself as "Princess".

An apparently positive aspect of anonymity, however, is the sense that I am being true to myself, and that was confirmed in my interactions with Ant. He said that I was quite similar to the person conveyed in my writing. I found this a relief, somehow, as though by being guarded in my actual identity allows me to be free in my self-expression. I'm glad to see that I am not portraying myself as something I'm not. Further reassuring me of this point was the fact that, though you never can quite predict the exact quirks of another person through their writing, I felt as though he was being equally sincere.

The flip side to our serious conversations was our propensity for immature displays of humour. As conveyed photographically in the link above, we served as quite poor chaperones for our stuffed friends, Titus and Phelony. What the photos don't betray is the fact that the two stuffed maniacs had merely being propped up on the table as we were having some sort of regular conversation, when somehow the table was bumped, and Titus toppelled forward, his head straight into Phelony's lap. We promptly dissolved into fits of giggles, and, as was recounted, began a fierce competition of positioning the two frisky beasts in the most shocking manners possible when they other person was in the bathroom. Though it is a little embarassing to be seen by oneself at a restaurant table trying to best arrange a stuffed Moomin between a stuffed Tasmanian devil's knees. The waitress looked more and more disturbed upon every refill attempt.

We drank in the afternoon, wandered the waterfront, snapped photos, indulged in a little caffeine (though my attempt to verse him in our coffee culture failed, as he insisted on ordering a black coffee and snickered at my multi-adjectived latte), and I promptly returned him to the train station at 5pm.
And then I walked back out the door into a world where these words are again-- for better or for worse-- my little secret.

18 comments:

Ant said...

That's so funny - as I said, I come from the opposite stance where most of my "real-world" friends read all my stuff and have to ask questions afterwards like: "so what was the Princess like then?"

It was a wonderful day - thank you for letting your worlds collide for a few hours!

(And wish me luck for my parole hearing tomorrow! There'll be lemonade and pyjamas after... :-) )

Princess Pointful said...

I am so very egotistical that I want to know how you answer that question.
(at least I'm honest... you said you liked that!)

And I managed to rent a cotton candy machine for your hearing. Blue and pink!

Beth said...

So glad your meeting went well.
I've never met a blogger (in real life) I haven't liked yet!
There's definitely something to be said for this pre-getting-to-know-you blog phenomenon.

Lisa said...

I've met blogger friends before. They always say I'm not at all like I am in my blog, which is strange because I like to think I'm most myself on it. Glad you guys had fun. The pictures were hilarious.

Chris Benjamin said...

that ant gets around. i hear he and ultra toast mosha god played a gig together at the apollo.

sounds like a good real world experience. will you meet others?

Yoda said...

So, you survived the Ant!

I'll be honest and say that I've met one blogger in person. After we met, they stopped blogging! Oh-my-god, that wasn't a very good meet :-p

Anonymous said...

awesome! sounds like a super fun time. glad things went smoothly. and? loved the way you ended this post!

eric1313 said...

Sounds excellent. I figured you could not be too different than how your words portray you.

Stuffed animals acted out all the pent up perversions that seem to affect all of us here in cyberopolis. How cute is that?

But he didn't experience the greatness that is a Seven-Eleven English toffee cappuccino? That's very sad to hear...

But good to hear you had fun "compromising" your identity. YOur secret sounds safe with Ant. (?)

Lisa said...

Meeting other bloggers would be so fun! Im jealous that you've got to. Also, I seriously love the strawberries. Every time they make me hungry.

captain corky said...

It's really cool that you met up with a fellow blogger/friend. It sounds like you guys had a great time.

Ant said...

Haha, OK well since you're asking, my first response is usually along the lines of "she is the cutest wee thing ever!" then I try and do an impression of your laugh and smile...

Is that an OK answer? :-)

Michelle and the City said...

glad you two go along so well. i hope that some day soon i can meet some of the wonderful bloggers supporting me right now. :)

The Author Of This said...

I've only met one blogger and the subject of blogging has never really come up at all. We've actually met up a couple of times, last one being last Saturday, and it's just like being mates. All rather strange really. But in a good way. Glad you both got on!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I think I'm jealous? Of Ant?
I WANNA MEET YOU TOO!! And hang out and do awesome things while carrying on deep conversations.

Crushed said...

I'm glad it panned out well, it's something I'd be wary of- I like to keep clear barriers between the two.

The barriers do blur in a funny world called IM- but even there I remain Crushed.

Did it feel strange?

Sheila said...

It was very brave of both you to follow through with it. I am glad it went well!
So far I have only a few bloggy friends with whom I feel secure enough to actually meet in person. The chances of it happening are slim since we all live in different states.

di.di said...

Wow, sounds like so much fun! Glad you had a great time ...

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

Oh boy.

I know all about this feeling from a few blogger meets of my own.

I should be in your (and the duke's) neck of the woods next year, so I'm hoping you're both game for some more random meeting.