I had two people approach me today and say something like (in the course of conversation): “it’s weird, because I read your blog and feel like in many ways we’ve already moved past the acquaintance / getting to know you stage… but I don’t have one or you don’t read mine so we aren’t on equal footing”.

Yes, weird.

To me, the part about feeling like you knew someone was spot on. I often go to conferences and meet people I read for the first time and we immediately become engrossed in conversation. No awkward “hey, how are you” and “who do you work for” and “what kind of deodorant do you use” kinds of questions. Just straight down to discussing what we’re both passionate about.

But, in this case, it was one-sided. I mean, I knew the people’s names, and they seemed like really nice folk that I’d like to get to know more eventually, once the opportunity came up…

Yeah, good times. Blogging: reducing the distance between us, and helping people make friends much more easily ;-)