CycleChat has a rides forum where people can post details of rides they are organising or taking part in (all over the country) and invite others to join them. This leads to quite and active off-site aspect to the forums and as such I've had the opportunity to meet quite a few of our members in real life. It actually helps me in the running of the site because I get to know people a little better having chatted with them whilst riding the miles away. Do you do anything outside of the forums to get together with your members, and does it help or hinder the management of your site? Cheers, Shaun
Our site has been in existence for over 15 years (originally started on the old Compuserv Forums) and migrated to its own site back in 2001. Some of us have grown close over the years, and yes, I've met many of the membership in my travels around the country. One of the things I'd love to do is travel to Australia to meet up with some of our Aussie members, too. As for hindering my ability to run the site... Naw. Everyone knows I'm a direct descendent of the original BOFH. I'd smack my own grandmother with a ban hammer if it was warranted.
I go to great lengths to keep my real life identity and on-line persona separate. Having said that I do meet up with members of a gaming clan forum I've run for the last 10 years. We meet up at LANs or occasionally go out for a curry. Unfortunately we also once got together for a funeral. It certainly doesn't hinder managing the site and I guess it's fair to say that it's helped keep the clan together for so long.
Have met with my webmaster forum members a couple of times. Of course only the ones in my city, but it was pretty fun to meet each other outside the community.
With most of the members on my sites being in a different country, it'd be hard for me to achieve. I did go to a few meets when I was part of an AOL group.. many many years ago! That was fun. I would consider arranging a meet if it wasn't so logistically implausable
On one of my forums alot of members always meet before matches for a pint and a bit of banter, I have yet to meet any of them as i like to keep my self to my self however when the chance arises and i actually get to a game next season i will be meeting a couple of the long term members and moderators who i would get on with. I do like to keep internet life , business and personal separate , you wont find any business acquaintances in my friends lists on places like facebook, if people make it to my facebook then its because i know them personally or i have known them for a number of years online.
It is not always good. People appear different as they used to be in our mind. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't.
I now run a breakaway forum, but back when I was on the original forum we used to meet up sometimes. I've met a lot of members in my time, and I think meetups are definitely a good thing.
