Meeting up with people you don't know

[QuestionsorComments]

It's occurred to me that I have always impressed upon DC not to arrange to meet people they've met online, but that I'm am doing exactly that twice this weekend.

I've joined a hiking group. I haven't even chatted with them online but I'm going on a fairly remote walk with them this weekend. I don't even know the names of the people whomwill be there.

I've joined another more mixed interest support group and have arranged to meet up for a coffee. A mixed group of about 6 people. I do know their names, or I know what they called themselves online....

These seem like normal things to do when part of an "organised" group, but I've no idea who the organisers are and I very much doubt any checks have been done.

Is this completely reckless or a normal way for an adult to meet new people?

You are overthinking this (for adult meetup) given that you are meeting a group. Isn’t this exactly what th le app Meetup is for - to bring together people with a shred interest. If you are hiking with a single person, I expect you’d take take precautions. People are craving interaction post/lockdown and meetup groups are booming I. London.

*sorry for the typos!

It’s normal.

You aren’t a small child striking up a chat with a bloke in a white van.

I'm married to someone I meet at an internet forum meet up! I think it's important to be aware of sensible safety precautions, and that not everyone is who they say they are, but "don't meet people off the internet" is a simplistic and unhelpful rule these days. How would Tinder etc ever survive?!