Meet up in Leeds/Bradford

My safety place is Cafe Nero's. There are usually enough to choose from in any area. Most of them are spacious enough so that you can be in quite a private group, yet surrounded by other people. They have decent coffee and you can wait comfortably sitting with your coffee if the other people are delayed. At the worst you have travelled to a town and bought a coffee. If no one appears at least you tried and if you dont find them anything like they appear on the thread you can politely say you have enjoyed the coffee but then can not be available to meet up again.

Crocus5

Butter and jam….has this been your experience?

Serendipitously, there's a new thread on Mumsnet called
"emergency guests".

I've seen that scam in action more than once. In each case, the "surprise guest " targeted a vague "acquaintanceship " groomed on online forums.

I’ve met up on a one to one basis four different people that I’ve been speaking to who are all lifelong friends now lovely people

Aldom

Crocus please don't be put off meeting with others on GN.
As Greenfinch said, as long as you are meeting with several people it's safe.
I've enjoyed many meet ups and met very nice women.
Hope you manage to arrange something in your area.

We have had number of extremely enjoyable Glasgow meet ups, in a very public place. No need to worry about your safety.

A lovely bunch of people, who are funny and great company.

Yes I would be interested.

Crocus please don't be put off meeting with others on GN.
As Greenfinch said, as long as you are meeting with several people it's safe.
I've enjoyed many meet ups and met very nice women.
Hope you manage to arrange something in your area.

Crocus5

Butter and jam….has this been your experience?

Yes, it has.

I think you can be too cautious. I have been to many meet ups in a variety of locations over the years and everyone I’ve met has been delightful. After all you are meeting as a group and there is safety in numbers .
There is no need to give your real name ,address or phone number until you have met them. The only exception would be if you agree to meet with one other which I agree is risky. On one occasion I was the only one to respond and so I contacted the moderators to ask if the person was male or female and when they refused to give me that information I decided not to go ahead with the meeting.

Butter and jam….has this been your experience?

Wise words butterandjam.

Just a word of caution.

However long you have posted or chatted online to that "familiar" online persona; this is not a real relationship and in real life SOME of those online personas are nothing like who or what they pretend to be. SOME are lonely mentally disturbed people whose only social outlet is online.

Never give out your home address or phone number before you have met your social media "friend" face to face in real life in an anonymous safe public place like a cafe.

Please don't think this kind of caution applies only to children and teenagers meeting up with their online "friend". Nuts purposely target any age or gender of vulnerable lonely people looking for a "kind" friend.

Crocus

Thank you Aldom.

If you are using a mobile phone just click on the ... Three dots, bottom right corner. See REPORT then click on it and write your request in the box.

Thank you all for your advice. How do I report the post to GNHQ and ask them to amend it?

Successful not unsuccessful.

Crocus you will definitely have more response, as Marydol said, if you put the location in the title of the thread. Report your post and ask GNHQ to do this for you.
I've had lots of lovely meet ups in Oxfordshire.

I didn’t scroll by but live at the other end of the country but hope others reply who are more local.
I started a group down south which was usuccessful fir a longish time, but it eventually fizzled out, though I still meet someone I got to know there.

Oops Crocus

Better to put in your location 8Crocus* , as many will scroll by.

Do you come regularly to Leeds?

I am in East Yorkshire. Funnily enough I will be in Leeds tomorrow.