That’s happened to me a lot. It’s humbling to know that there are so many great people out there - and that we can be so blind in not recognizing their great qualities instantly… 
[quote=“Spack”]Has anyone ever met another 'mosan after knowing them first on the boards, and then felt let down, or worse, thought they were a dick?
[/quote]
Quite the opposite for me. I’ve met a few forumosans who, online, are quite negative. Curmudgeons, at the very least. In person, they turned out to be quite pleasant. I’m not sure why they choose to be so negative online, but in person, they are fine.
I’ve met a bunch of Forumosans and can’t think of any, offhand, that I’d have rather not met.
Except Almas John – if I hadn’t met him I wouldn’t have got a bollocking off the wife for coming home late and drunk. 
I’ve met around 50 including a couple who don’t post anymore. Most of them weren’t very different from what I had expected . One I had met long before posting on Forumosa and got in touch again through Forumosa (or rather, she got in touch with me ). Some of them have become my best friends in Taipei.
As to being scared of meeting people in person because they know so much about me: I only post what I feel comfortable letting other people that I don’t know very well know about me. And unlike the poster who said that you don’t have anything to talk about when you meet in person because you’ve said it all on Forumosa already, I usually feel that the contrary is the case. Meeting another Forumosan, there always is something to talk about (and everybody around who does NOT post on Forumosa tends to get terribly bored 
).
Iris
The real question is “how many forumosans would you like to meet”?
Spack,
Yeah, I know you were kidding about the Matiz.
And awwwwww shucks for the nice remark.
The people I’ve met have all been cool…and some I met years before there even was a Forumosa. 
i have a lot of fun trying to figure out which formosans i know from back in the day…there’s also a few people i run into that don’t know who i am but i know who they are in here (obviously people like tpebob and alleycat are at a disadvantage here since they can’t really hide) i know i should just say “hi, i am the bear” but it sounds a bit silly somehow…still if someone wants to know my real name it’s there in my profile as an email address…
Sandwuss wrote:
[quote]I’ve met a bunch of Forumosans and can’t think of any, offhand, that I’d have rather not met.
Except Almas John – if I hadn’t met him I wouldn’t have got a bollocking off the wife for coming home late and drunk. [/quote]
And then I started drinking. 
I’ll make it up to you Sandman. Next time I see you in a watering hole or within an arm’s reach of the demon drink, I will be your “fairy grogmother” and make sure that you stay sober and leave early.
pinesay, maoman, gus, hexuan, hartzell, mr. he, cranky laowai, christine, bu lai en, wolf_reinhold, closet queen, sandman, ckvw, sharky, big babou, chainsmoker, ianlamont, poagao, viba, imaniou, angst, lol, monkbucket, ironlady, khandn, crackpot, feiren, quiet mountain, rascal, flicka, chung, juba, steven chiang, Came_to_dig_Tawulun_gold, iris, amos, timogan, fox, big fluffy matthew, frazier, fee, sir donald bradman, daasgrrl, deco orient, mindcrime, muffin, stewart pendous, huang guang chen, miltownkid, littlebuddhaTW, tigerman, richardm, okami, magnolia, twonavels, alleycat, fred smith, tomas, fredericka bimmel, glossika, X3M, dalyn, cainman, chodofu, cavy yar, scottsommers, olwen, hakkasonic, kentaiwan98, the bear, howka deeba, brian funshine, jeff locker, androo, scooter,williameldrum, mark western, batboy, broonale, tpebob, slurpcheese, jack burton, kick-stand, alleycat’s wife_jenny, taverncaptain, ayaba, roseha…
And probably others who know who I am, but haven’t revealed their identities
But several of those above have more than one identity.
And some of them may not realise I know who THEY are.
And some of us may know each other but don’t know who we are here.
I know 20 of those above pre-Forumosa.
Those I’d like to meet: Mother Theresa, almas_john, durins bane, spook, flike, stragbasher, braxtonhicks, blueface666, chewycorns, mod lang, spack, mucha man, lane119, bassman, AWOL, Stevezeauthor…
I have met 3 regular posters, 3 lurkers, and have talked to two others over the phone.
I would like to party with my fellow moderators sometime.
[quote=“Alien”]
Those I’d like to meet: Mother Theresa, almas_john, durins bane, spook, flike, stragbasher, braxtonhicks, blueface666, chewycorns, mod lang, spack, Mucha (Muzha) man, lane119, bassman, AWOL, Stevezeauthor…
[/quote]
Awwww, how’d I get on the list?
Wait… Alien probably wants to smack me with a dead fish for some of the stupid stuff I post on here. 
There is always an open invitation in Tachia for “almost” any Forumosan to come and meet me.
Hey Bassman, we almost met at Matsu’s birthday. Separated by a thick crowd only. Next time I’ll do my best Brando impression:
“Bassseeemaaaaaannnn! Basssssseeeeemaaaaaaaannnnn!”
I’m surprised how many I have met considering I haven’t been to a Formosan get together and don’t actually get out all that often.
The list:
Maoman, Bu Lai En and Sir Donald Bradman, Iris, ImaniOU, Okami, Rascal, Almas John, Tomas, Mocha1976, miltownkid, Aenias.
Almost met cw.jc. We were going to meet for a hike but then a taxi ran over his foot. At least that’s what he told me. :s
Some people I’d like to meet. Alien, Mother Teresa, Fred Smith and Blueface666. Preferably all at the same time.
But we have met…quite a while ago. 
I even have your name card. Blueface666…international man of mystery. 
But we have met…quite a while ago. I even have your name card. Blueface666…international man of mystery. [/quote]
How could I forget YOU? I’ve even seen your pics that you’ve posted and you don’t look familar except in the generic old geezer sense. I DOUBT I ever took you home with me one drunken evening as I don’t do things like that.
[quote=“Mucha (Muzha) Man”]
Some people I’d like to meet. Alien, Mother Teresa, Fred Smith and Blueface666. Preferably all at the same time. [/quote]
We could arrange that if we can get Blueface back here in the next 2 weeks. Or wait another eight plus months for the Return of the Alien.
[quote=“Alien”] I doubt I ever took you home with me one drunken evening as I don’t do things like that.
[/quote]
So I can sell the photos?
[quote=“blueface666”][quote=“Alien”] I doubt I ever took you home with me one drunken evening as I don’t do things like that.
[/quote]
So I can sell the photos? [/quote]
I’ll buy them if there are pics of “big gelly” and “big red”
[quote=“Chewycorns”][quote=“blueface666”][quote=“Alien”] I doubt I ever took you home with me one drunken evening as I don’t do things like that.
[/quote]
So I can sell the photos? [/quote]
I’ll buy them if there are pics of “big gelly” and “big red”
[/quote]
Sorry…just “Big Blue”!
Ya I guess red would be “enemy” colors for her.