Syafique and Jessica, host of the EAT CHAT MINGLE event! Post-Script: Jessica does not want to be referred as the "host". She attended the event as a GUEST!

I have been blogging actively since 2006 and I have never met any of my blog readers, with the exception of friends who happen to read my blog. I’ve met one or two but we didn’t really sit down and have a conversation. It was more of a “Hey you read my blog! Hey you’re at KLCC, too! Ok, gotta run!”. The blog was called Curious Syaf and it was a very personal blog, even more personal than this one. I shared with readers my daily routines, yet I wasn’t ready to meet my loyal followers.

A few years ago, I prefer to mingle with my real life friends and keep my online friends, online! Ask me to meet my blog readers and I’ll think a thousand times before blunting a statement like, “Are you crazy? What if they kill me? They can read my daily ramblings, but I doubt I want to meet them in person!”

Over the years, I’ve made new online friends via new and trendier social media sites such as Twitter (www.twitter.com/syafique) and my Q of the Day page (www.syafiqueshuib.com/facebook). Some of these people are nice people, who constantly take the initiative to reply my tweets, daily questions, and blog posts. I thought to myself, “We’ve been in contact with each other online… we might as well meet in REAL life.

Why the change in attitude? I am at a point in my life where I am comfortable to meet my online buddies face-to-face. There is a certain trust level in play. What is the harm, anyway? As long as that person is not a serial killer then I feel safe.

Did you get the invite?

syafiqueshuib.com’s columnist Jessica Iyo-Chan and I planned for an ice-cream gathering to reflect my personal passion for eating ice-cream. After giving it much thought, I decided to do a dinner gathering at Nando’s, because I like to eat, especially…chicken, and that is Nando’s specialty. It was an open invitation and obviously it was a mix crowd. There was Jessica, my partner in crime. There was Jane, in her thirties. I often communicate with her via Facebook. Prior to this event, I met her only once and that was at a book launch. There was Grace, an active Twitter user (www.twitter.com/gracelook) and I have never met her before . There were also my Monash buddies Eunice, Jojo, Zeck and his girlfriend. Due to our busy schedule, we often chat online or via Facebook. Oh yes, the Kosmo team was there too (more on that later in the week!). I am not spilling the details of the dinner party but what I want to talk about here is the power of social media and how we can also have a relationship offline, away from the computer screen and in real life.

I like how Grace defines Social Media. She said that social media is like a big cocktail party, connecting people from all over the world online. What a nice definition and how true. The moment we said “Hi!” to each other, I felt like I’ve known her for a long time. Maybe that is because we often read each other’s Tweets on Twitter. By doing so, I feel like I know Grace; maybe not totally, but enough to be comfortable with. A night before the Eat Chat Mingle dinner, I also met another Twitter user Razman (www.twitter.com/razmanrahim). Just like Grace, the moment we greeted each other, I felt like I’ve known him for a long time. Along with his wife, the three of us had a fantastic conversation and great laughs at KLCC. I seriously had a great time with Razman and his wife that night even though it was my first time meeting them.

We are in a world where most internet users are active social media users. Gone are the days when the internet is used to play online games or check emails. We are now on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Blog. It is such a powerful medium. We constantly communicate with our own friends as well as welcoming new people in our life. These strangers, it seems, are no longer strangers. Genuine relationship are often created as a result of constant interactions.

When you open your heart to new people, you are able toshare fascinating stories, exchange ideas and learn from each other. I do know some people like to network with people for personal gains. For me, I like to make new friends for the sake of friendship. BTW – I prefer a genuine friendship, nothing pretentious (enough of those from my media days!).

I do not know about you but I constantly want to make new online friends. The cocktail party is not over just yet. I am already planning syafiqueshuib.com’s second gathering. Bowling anyone?

Syafique loves to communicate with you! If you are a new reader, connect with him via www.twitter.com/syafique, www.syafiqueshuib.com/facebook, and www.youtube.com/syaftv!

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