Can you meet women on facebook groups or other non-internet sites without making your info public?

[max3732]

I was talking to one of my friends that just got married and he said he met his wife through a hiking Facebook page. I didn't even realize that Facebook had groups. That got me thinking about trying to meet someone like that, but I don't like to put anything on my Facebook account that I setup when I was in college and have real friends on.

Could I make a new account and then look for groups I'm interested in and try to meet women that way? Are there other websites where you can connect to people in your area with similar interests? Something I'd love to do is sign up for a political group, but I don't want my friends seeing that I'm on there.

Pre Covid I'd signed up for meetup but never met anyone that way. 

I'm a private person who doesn't like to put too much online.

[CaliforniaGirl]

13 minutes ago, max3732 said:

I was talking to one of my friends that just got married and he said he met his wife through a hiking Facebook page. I didn't even realize that Facebook had groups. That got me thinking about trying to meet someone like that, but I don't like to put anything on my Facebook account that I setup when I was in college and have real friends on.

Could I make a new account and then look for groups I'm interested in and try to meet women that way? Are there other websites where you can connect to people in your area with similar interests? Something I'd love to do is sign up for a political group, but I don't want my friends seeing that I'm on there.

Pre Covid I'd signed up for meetup but never met anyone that way. 

I'm a private person who doesn't like to put too much online.

I guess, but I think the women you approach might think you’re hiding something, like being married, being a catfish or whatever.

 

[Luna66star]

Why dont you want people to see you on there? Whats the issue? Are you an undercover agent?

By creating a fake account, remember if you actually meet people in person, they will know that's not your real identity & they will wonder what you are hiding by posting another name online.

I really don't trust people who are so private that they are afraid to show who they really are online, or who want to hide away from people who already know them.

 

 

[max3732]

1 hour ago, Luna66star said:

Why dont you want people to see you on there? Whats the issue? Are you an undercover agent?

By creating a fake account, remember if you actually meet people in person, they will know that's not your real identity & they will wonder what you are hiding by posting another name online.

I really don't trust people who are so private that they are afraid to show who they really are online, or who want to hide away from people who already know them.

 

 

I don't like to mix friends and people I work with in real life and I don't like the idea of someone I'm doing a business deal with knowing my hobbies, favorite foods or political views. When I was in college I made the account and have my age and some real pictures I put up then, but don't have anything else on there. For work I had a request for access to all my social media and I don't want them to see me posting about my thoughts on super hero movies or whatever groups I joined. 

I also know a lot of people who have had their ID stolen and am loath to put anything online that might make that easier. 

What I was thinking with the fake account was just putting a name generic photo of nature or something so they know I'm not trying to say I'm someone I'm not. If we met in person I'd just explain what I posted above. 

Do you really have to fill in where you went to school, your birthday, your relatives, employer, friends, interests, etc? That just seems like a privacy nightmare. Plus I know with Facebook you are the product and they're selling your info to advertisers.

Are there other places besides Facebook that might be better?

[CaliforniaGirl]

1 hour ago, max3732 said:

I don't like to mix friends and people I work with in real life and I don't like the idea of someone I'm doing a business deal with knowing my hobbies, favorite foods or political views. When I was in college I made the account and have my age and some real pictures I put up then, but don't have anything else on there. For work I had a request for access to all my social media and I don't want them to see me posting about my thoughts on super hero movies or whatever groups I joined. 

I also know a lot of people who have had their ID stolen and am loath to put anything online that might make that easier. 

What I was thinking with the fake account was just putting a name generic photo of nature or something so they know I'm not trying to say I'm someone I'm not. If we met in person I'd just explain what I posted above. 

Do you really have to fill in where you went to school, your birthday, your relatives, employer, friends, interests, etc? That just seems like a privacy nightmare. Plus I know with Facebook you are the product and they're selling your info to advertisers.

Are there other places besides Facebook that might be better?

If you turn this around, how little do you want to know of your prospective date and how much of herself do you want her to hide from you?

I don't know about where else to go right now except OLD, but hopefully somebody else will chime in!

Are there any Zoom meetups on meetup?

[Wiseman2]

Dating apps. Don't catfish on social media. Join some groups, but as who you are.

Simply reset your privacy settings so that only certain people can view your content.

[QuietRiot]

Well, regardless of it's groups or not, I don't think mostwomen are keen on being approached on Facebook altogether, although I have been known to get lured into that "people you may know" list that I often see pop up....and see that we share some mutual friends, that I may be so inclined to introduce myself.   

Edited September 9, 2020 by QuietRiot

[max3732]

11 hours ago, QuietRiot said:

Well, regardless of it's groups or not, I don't think mostwomen are keen on being approached on Facebook altogether, although I have been known to get lured into that "people you may know" list that I often see pop up....and see that we share some mutual friends, that I may be so inclined to introduce myself.   

What my friend said was that he made some comments on their shared interest in the group and the woman  messaged him saying she had the same opinion and now they're married. 

Let's say I use my regular account. Can I block everyone from seeing the groups I'm in and the comments I make? I'd love to find like minded people on politics in my area, but I don't want my employer or friends seeing my thoughts on political topics. I've read about people getting fired for political posts from 10 years go. Even if you can keep it private I'm so afraid of having someone take a screenshot of me saying something that gets me in trouble. 

That's why I'd like to use a fake name with an obviously fake picture, like a sunrise or something and then feel free to discuss politics or why I liked a certain Star Wars movie or video game more than another one or whatever else might be embarrassing for friends/family/coworkers to see. 

[max3732]

20 hours ago, CaliforniaGirl said:

If you turn this around, how little do you want to know of your prospective date and how much of herself do you want her to hide from you?

I don't know about where else to go right now except OLD, but hopefully somebody else will chime in!

Are there any Zoom meetups on meetup?

At first I'd just want to know she has the same interest in lives in the general area. As we start chatting I'd share more. Ideally once COVID is over or managed it would be great if there were groups where you meet in person so you could get to know people that way instead of going through pictures and information online.

I'm going to check on meetup and see if there are any Zoom activities.

[basil67]

I am a member of many hobby related FB groups, many which are set to ‘private’.  Only those in the group know I’m there and what I post about.   PM me if you want to know what to look for in terms of privacy.

That said, no matter how secure you feel, don’t ever make comments on social media which you wouldn’t want your employer or Grandmother to see.  

Edited September 10, 2020 by basil67

[basil67]

I’ve just gone back to the start of this thread.  While I have made some acquaintances through groups, I would be extremely wary of any who weren’t using their real page.  I’d recommend you be yourself.

If groups aren’t controversial, I don’t understand your need to hide your interests from your friends.  

[Wiseman2]

On 9/9/2020 at 6:57 PM, max3732 said:

I'd love to find like minded people on politics in my area. 

Why aren't you volunteering in election campaigns for your local, regional and other favorite candidates?

As you point out it's always foolish to publicly post controversial content.

Stick with volunteering and supporting your polical candidates if you want "like minded" people.

 

 

[max3732]

On 9/15/2020 at 4:03 AM, enigma32 said:

Facebook groups are a good place to meet women if you are comfortable with a LDR. Otherwise, I cannot recommend it. Also, if you try to meet people using a second FB account, you are going to look like a scammer. 

What is a LDR