What is it like to meet up with an internet friend for the first time?

Hello, my fellow Steemians!

In this era of Digital World, we all mark our presence on different social media platforms (Example: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tinder and also Steemit). Have you ever made random friends on them? If yes, Do you consider them equally as you consider your offline real-world friends? Can you trust them blindly as you trust your offline friends?

Many of you might feel security issues or may even think of them just as chit chat with friends.
However, for me it's different. I have fewer friends offline as compared to my friend list of online.

So, my first list of internet friends was made through Clash of Clans. I got to know different people from different parts of the world and I even befriend them. There, I used to chat with a person who's real-world name is Harsh Vardhan Patel a native of Mumbai. We used to chat a lot about COC and other real-life stuff and TV Series etc. After 6 months of continuous chit-chat with him, he once asked me if I ever plan to come to Mumbai I need to pay him a visit to his house as well. I don't know how our fortune works, but after 2 months my dad got a contract for his business in Mumbai and he asked us if we would like to join him(father) to visit Mumbai while he finishes his work. I went to Mumbai and there I planned my whole trip with his(harsh) consultation. I met him(Harsh) that day, he took me to his home, he introduced me to his family as an "online friend" with feeling any hesitation and insecurities, offered me lunch and we both explored Mumbai together afterward. Later, when I was leaving from his place, his mom even gave me a shagan(A token of love in India when someone close visits you). Since then, we became even good friends or I would say "Best Friends". We still chat a lot, make fun of our other COC mutuals, discuss TV series and refer hot chicks to each other lol.

My point here is in today's world, people often don't trust anyone so easily and that is obvious due to the security and threat issues we feel. However, I feel meeting online friends is as same as meeting offline friends and I would love to meet all those who are my online friends. I still think when you can be on tinder for dating a random person or talking to that random boy or girl, why can't you meet someone who is there on Instagram or facebook? At least, there is a valid proof of him/her being authentic.

Also, I am glad that I found some similar kind of friends on steemit whom I would really love to meet. We all work together, explore opportunities on steemit and also crack jokes on telephonic conference calls.

For my All Online Friends

Hope to meet more new people here.