Meeting e-acquaintances

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I don't get it...

e-acquaintances on a local form keep asking and inviting for gatherings and meetings, sometimes for activities such as paintball and stuff. They hardly know each others and I know no one of them.

I have no paranoia in meeting new people but the thing is that they ask to meet them as if we (and them) are really friends for a good while.

Seriously, where the fun in doing such activities with complete strangers?

A lot of people who meet over the internet do not consider their "e-acquaintances" to be complete strangers. You can learn just as much about a person over the internet as you can in person.

To answer the argument I can see coming, it's just as possible to hide your "true self" in real life as it is over the internet. At some point you just have to decide whether you trust people.

I think for us "spectrumites" we enjoy sharing ideas with each other more than "hanging out." For NT'ers maybe the idea of being someones "buddy" is more important. I actually have fantasies where I practice being someones friend or being in a group of friends hanging out, but I can never understand what the purpose is when I try it in real life.

My advice to you is to tell people you are happy to be their "internet buddy" and leave it at that.

A lot say it's dangerous to meet online friends. I see why some would like to meet each other, although it can be pointless since some live so far away from each other.

It's only dangerous if you do it stupidly. As long as you meet in a public place, it's perfectly safe.

As for why some people do it, they just enjoy meeting new people. Most people with Aspergers or similar don't, though. At least not until they've gotten to know the person somewhat beforehand.

The worst, to me, is online dating. I can understand getting to know someone better over the internet, really, but dating someone you only know through text?

I did it once. It was super awkward. I don't recommend it.