A Word of Caution

[OMGAFLYINGPENGUIN]

Tried to search for your blog but couldn't find it. Anyway, I think I can understand where you are coming from, my friends have had similar encounters in the previous game, and by the time they found out it was too late. It is very easy for online people to deceive people over the internet, so yes always safeguard yourself and be aware of the things you should not disclose. I'm curious can't you actually make a police report on this dude since it seems more of an outside the game kind of thing now?

I've seen pretty creepy and weird people in this game, so yeah lol

[Vespar]

I'd be wary of anyone online at first. I met my husband in FFXI, but I knew him for several years before we met in person.
My apologies that you had a rough go of it OP, and its sound advice to anyone to be cautious; online or otherwise... but dont entirely discount a relationship just because it started online.
:< Unfortunately they could have done that to you even if you had met in person.

Still you have my sympathies.

[Axia_Darkrose]

im sorry you had a rough time with this, i agree with the fact of being cautious with relationships online, not everyone is like this though.

[Morzy]

Im sorry you had it rough.. i personally helped a friend that was abused in a similar way.

[Kogasan]

It's interesting to see just how many people have met there irl significant others in ffxi. Me being one of them thought I was the only one. Glad to see the other's represent.

[Vespar]

It's interesting to see just how many people have met there irl significant others in ffxi. Me being one of them thought I was the only one. Glad to see the other's represent.

Oh awesome!
In this day and age, you really cant discount social media/gaming as a way to build relations or date. Though I wasnt looking for a significant other during my time playing XI, I ended up with one. Couldn't be happier though!

Even so, not every experience will be like mine, so to others definitely play it safe if you meet online and be cautious.

[_slowpoke_]

It's interesting to see just how many people have met there irl significant others in ffxi. Me being one of them thought I was the only one. Glad to see the other's represent.

It's 2016, and the Internet has been a thing for a while now - in fact, it's an integral part of many people's lives. Many find real friendship or love in or via online games these days, and that's a wonderful thing. Of course - and that is what OP has pointed out - the Internet in general and online games specifically also brings with it a lot of things that you should be a bit wary of and/or careful with (just as you should be in meatspace) and sometimes require new & different approaches to be dealt with.

Online harassment (including, but not limited to, stalking) is a real threat to a lot of people, and many communities (including this one, sadly) as well as most authorities are uninformed (or worse, wrongly informed) and ill-equipped to deal with and handle it, in addition to the issue that many do not take it seriously or even blame the people experiencing harassment. There are a few good resources and organizations who deal with these sort of things - Crash Override being an excellent example - and I recommend getting their help if you or someone you know find yourself the target of such abuse.

All the best to you, OP, and all others who have found themselves in similar situations. May you ever walk in the light of the Crystal.

[Kosmos992k]

It's interesting to see just how many people have met there irl significant others in ffxi. Me being one of them thought I was the only one. Glad to see the other's represent.

I'm old school, I met my RL (and in-game) wife in Usenet, we were married in 2000...I've seen things work well for some and fall apart for others. Tread carefully folks.

[NaesakiAshwell]

I'm old school, I met my RL (and in-game) wife in Usenet, we were married in 2000...I've seen things work well for some and fall apart for others. Tread carefully folks.

I met my boyfriend through a friend who introduced me to a gamer group on facebook. As of September I will have been with him for 2 years, and this July he'll be staying with me for a full month.

[Roegadyn_Bear]

I'm old school, I met my RL (and in-game) wife in Usenet, we were married in 2000...I've seen things work well for some and fall apart for others. Tread carefully folks.

I met my significant otter (some of you will get this bad joke) in World of Warcraft before their first expansion, amusingly. The thing is, neither of us were actively looking for a relationship. It just happened over the course of time (and me being a pervert). I've been with my partner for 12 years already, 9 of those years spent online until we finally were financially stable and ready to move in together.

An online relationship takes a significant amount of time and effort to make it work compared to going out in the dating scene in person. Communication and trust is vital, as well as establishing what is okay and what isn't. I've lived with him for 2-3 months just to see if we'd be compatible together in person before any plans were made to eventually move in together, because talking to someone online is obviously very different than living with them.

I see so many people jump into the online relationship scene without realizing what it entails because they see the success stories and believe themselves to be the next one without taking a good look at the really bad stories. Crazy doesn't show itself initially. Jealousy, being unable to trust, obsession, and possessiveness will poison and ultimately destroy any relationship, as well as possibly hurting someone in the process.

You have no idea how many potential relationships can start just by that.

Problem is I do.

Most successful relationships just tend to happen naturally, or in some cases, by accident.