AnybodyOutThere

This week we thought we’d introduce you to StormyPetrel

Q: How did you find AnybodyOutThere?
A: I found it through StumbleUpon, so it was a rather random but entirely pleasant surprise find.

Q:What keeps you coming back to the site?
A: The people, plain and simple.  I find real people on this site.  For some reason people seem to really embrace the interface and let themselves be themselves.  I find a level of humanity in my interactions with people on this site that I just find lacking elsewhere.

Q: Who have you had some of your best chats with?
A: The people who are the furthest removed geographically from me.  It’s format remind me of my old ham radio days.  I can log on and readily connect with genuine people from around that world and every time I connect with someone we learn from each other and discover that, even though we’re countless miles apart, we’re largely the same (re: good people) no matter where you are.

Q: What do you like talking about on AnybodyOutThere?
A: I like to know what is going on in people’s lives.  I’m interested in the mundane (to them) affairs of their daily life not only because they’re new to me, but because the struggles we face are the same I’ve learned new ways of improving my life just by chatting with and listening to others.
I also love talking about random and sometimes political events.  My mind is never closed and I love new ideas; I find those here.

Q: How do you introduce yourself to someone you’re chatting to for the first time?
A: The same way I do in person: with a greeting and a “how are you” and a “what’s new”.  Are things good/bad?  If they are the kind of AOT people I’m looking for they’ll be honest and I’ll have something to talk about with them.  I always try to make a point of laying out something personal at the beginning so they don’t feel that the sharing is a one-way street.

Q: How did you come up with your username?
A: It’s a handle I’ve had for years.  Aside from being a waterfowl, a Stormy Petrel is one who appears at the onset of trouble or even the bringer of strife; there’s also a nice little literary history to the term.  I’m a bit of a trouble-maker at heart.

Q: Name one thing you have learnt from the AnybodyOutThere community?
A: The internet is not all trolls and bad spellers.

Q: Any tips for AnybodyOutThere newbies.
A: Be honest.  No one can see you and we’re all people at heart.  Put yourself out there, see what comes back and ignore the few bad apples that don’t represent the bunch.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about the part of the world you come from?
A: We are the only country to have ever definitively defeated the USA in open military conflict (cf: the War of 1812); a victory that included burning the White House to the ground.

Q:What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people in the AnybodyOutThere community know?
A: I have a special place in my heart for show tunes and pretty skirts (on me).

This week we thought we’d introduce you to Deenie.


Q: How did you find AnybodyOutThere?
A: I was depressed, bored and alone. I typed AnybodyOutThere in the search bar and I saw a link. There was a description of a place where people can chat and receive responses to questions they have. I decided to check it out and walla, I’ve been here since March of 2010, almost daily.

Q: What keeps you coming back to the site?
A: I have many friends I meet up with to chat. The site fills my day. I’m out of work due to injury and television drains may brain, so I spend much of my time on here. It keeps me from feeling isolated. I’ve gained confidence, its helping with my extreme shyness, I’ve learned how not to hunt and peck on the keyboard and I get to meet the neatest people from all over the world. Not bad for a day in my life.

Q: Who have you had some of your best chats with?
A: Oh that’s difficult to answer, I have met so many great people, but i do have my touch stones. Decomp, zo6fvr and a person who will remain nameless, have given me courage and confidence to face my life. But there are many more that I’ve helped or who have helped me and I can’t list them all. But each of them have been serious, thought provoking, outrageous and downright hysterical.

Q: What do you like talking about on AnybodyOutThere?
A: I will try to discuss anything, thanks to google, urban dictionary and acronym dictionary, I have learned a lot since joining AOT. I always try to check myself before I make a comment, to make sure I am accurate, but most comments come from my heart and gut feeling, and I don’t apologize unless I’ve been found mistaken or misunderstood. I love to learn and ask questions or study a topic that is in a post that I’m unfamiliar with.

Q: How do you introduce yourself to someone you’re chatting to for the first time?
A: I always greet with hi or hello or a hey, with the new ones, I want to be easy to talk to so I find out where they are from and mention something that may help them relax and open up. I try to stick to open ended questions to avoid the one worded answer.

Q: How did you come up with your username?
A: My username is my first name missing an important letter. I’ve always wanted a nickname, so I chose one for here that I like. Simple really.

Q: Name one thing you have learnt from the AnybodyOutThere community?
A: We all desire to feel connected. Many of us are lonely and have personal issues we deal
with on a daily basis. I come here to be relieved of the daily stress of my own personal issues. I prefer not to dwell on them and learn more about the world around me and what motivates others and surprisingly, where they are is not far from where I am mentally, The Internet world truly is a small world, with many fascinating inhabitant.

Q: Any tips for AnybodyOutThere newbies.
A: Yes, one big tip. SPEAK. Don’t be afraid to speak to me or anyone on here. I know it maybe difficult at first, but don’t worry, no one can really hurt you. You are free to be yourself, no judgment, especially if you talk to me. When you make posts, they represent you, if they are shallow and badly written, it reflects on you. You wouldn’t go out in dirty clothes and unbathed. So think of your post as an extension of who you are, you’ll be better received and appreciated which is what we all want

Q: What’s one interesting fact about the part of the world you come from?
A: I’m new to Arizona, from California, born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania also lived in Florida.
In Arizona, I have heard that in August, we have monsoons. I have never been in one. When
the monsoon ends, the wild life comes out, little frogs come out from there secret places,
much like the worms after a good Pittsburgh rain. The monsoons, are fantastic
displays of nature and the frogs, well any chance of any being a prince? Who knows, it’s
the desert, anything can happen.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people in the AnybodyOutThere community know?
A:I’m kind of quirky. A mix of intelligence and air-headedness that some see as charming
but irritates the heck out of me. I love to sing karaoke from YouTube with my granddaughter to help her sleep; it makes her smile and allows me to get back to checking my messages
on AOT. Oh and I try to never take myself too seriously. I’m the first to laugh at myself and I
prefer a straight shooter to a soft con.

This week we thought we’d introduce you to Dandelions.

Q: How did you find AnybodyOutThere?
A: A link was posted on another website that I visit daily. Along with the link was the glowing endorsement that AOT was much, much better than other random chat sites where “A/S/L?” and disembodied genitalia are the rule rather than the exception. It was a cold, boring winter night and I clicked that link out of curiosity…

Q:  What keeps you coming back to the site?
A: Can I be perfectly honest with you (and myself) for a moment? It’s partially the sheer power of procrastination and the need to be constantly excessively occupied that keeps me coming back. Of course, the other part of that answer is that there are really great people who make me want to come back to the site. (Even if, despite how witty and charming and brilliant they are, they just serve the function of aiding procrastination.)

Q:  Who have you had some of your best chats with?
A: There are a bunch of amazing people, too many to name individually. They excite me with their debates and ideas and values, and I’m always amazed by how funny, warm, and sharp these people are. I never expected that simple chats on AOT would blossom into on and off-site friendships.
But, I’m going to buck the beauty-pagent-no-names trend and actually name one person, misterdave, because he was the first person on AOT that I talked to constantly– maybe the only person for a while– and the one who kept me coming back. He and I are different in a wide variety of ways, but I’ve come to value and trust his advice and perspective, think of him as both a surrogate family member and a buddy who I’d love to have a beer with, and treasure his ceaseless friendship.

Q: What do you like talking about on AnybodyOutThere?
A: First and foremost, I love talking about the things I’m passionate about– music and writing. I’m constantly on the hunt for new music and if someone can expose me to some enthralling new music that I haven’t heard, I’m always impressed and grateful.
But I also like to talk about whatever interests or is important to my chat partner. I like to know what excites them, what’s troubling them, what their favorite corny jokes are… anything they’re willing to share. As long as the conversation goes beyond “what’s up, I’m bored…” I’ll keep talking. I find myself doling out a lot of advice, homework help, and armchair psychology, so I guess part of me wants to be helpful just as much as other parts of me want to be the joker.

Q: How do you introduce yourself to someone you’re chatting to for the first time?
A: I’m the kind of person who likes to jump right into discussions without the formalities of a “hi” sometimes, particularly if I was enticed to chat with someone because of a post they made. Maybe it’s rude, but why get bogged down in formalities when there are things to be said!

Q: How did you come up with your username?
A: People rag on me for this, but I consider dandelions among my favorites as far as flowers go. “Why,” you ask, “aren’t they just weeds?” Well, sure, they’re wild flowers, weeds, whatever… but just try and look at a field full of the bright yellow blooms and not smile broadly at their brilliance. I argue that they’re under-appreciated as far as flowers go.

Q: Name one thing you have learnt from the AnybodyOutThere community?
A: Not to underestimate humans, in both positive and negative ways. I’m constantly surprised by people, again, in both positive and negative ways.

Q: Any tips for AnybodyOutThere newbies.
A: Don’t get downhearted if people decline you at first, or jump on you for spelling or for your love of Miley Cyrus. It happens, and it’s not always right or fair. That said, you might want to spell check your posts and realize that most celebrities aren’t going to be sitting around waiting to read what you’ve had to say online (and that your spamming it won’t help the situation). Though I did hear a rumor about one teenage Canadian musician with a fondness for the word “baby” and perfectly flippable hair…

Q: What’s one interesting fact about the part of the world you come from?
A: I’m a lifelong New Englander, representing the southern New England states, where we are known to be stoic and often clammed up about everything… except, I suppose, the fervent regional love of the Boston Red Sox. We also like our lobsters boiled, our Sam Adams cold, and our marriage rights equalized.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people in the AnybodyOutThere community know?
A: I get carded for R-rated movies even though I’m a decade past 17. Life’s awesome!

This week we thought we’d introduce you to ChuckUFarley.

Q: How did you find AnybodyOutThere?
A: A number of months ago I was checking my daily tech blogs when I came across a post regarding anonymous chat sites. I checked out the three sites they referenced and immediately fell in love with AOT. Being old school Internet I spent many hours in the early days on IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and loved the format it offered. While AOT is not chat rooms, like IRC, the ability to post topics and the anonymous aspect of AOT really appealed to me. If any of you folks are old IRC alumni, I was very active on DALnet from 1995-2000 spending the last few years as an IRCop. My nickname on DALnet was ducky.

Q:  What keeps you coming back to the site?
A: The people keep me coming back. Both those I have developed friendships with and the new ones I meet on a daily basis.

Q: Who have you had some of your best chats with?
A: Too many to list but you know who you are. The most memorable was with a lady who I developed a very strong bond with. We met at a very pivotal time in her life and found a bit of magic.

Q:  What do you like talking about on AnybodyOutThere?
A: More so than anything I like talking about life. Each of us have a unique perspective and I love sharing this with others.

Q: How do you introduce yourself to someone you’re chatting to for the first time?
A: A simple ‘Howdy’ usually suffices just fine. I am a very open person and will share almost any aspect of my life. (Don’t ask for my SSN). If they have posted something specific in their topic I will usually address that right off the bat.

Q: How did you come up with your username?
A: In my years on the Internet I have used many personae. My current is simply one I pulled out of my hat for use on AOT. I first heard Chuck U Farley used in the movie “Pump Up The Volume” and found it a very humorous play on words.

Q:  Name one thing you have learnt from the AnybodyOutThere community?
A: AOT is a global community with the good, the bad and the ugly. A very good place to practice tolerance and understanding.

Q: Any tips for AnybodyOutThere newbies.
A: If you are coming to AOT to find celebrities. Do not waste your time. If you are coming seeking help simply ask for it. There are many users on AOT who are very good listeners. Be patient and contact people who seem to have topics that interest you. Finally, don’t feel bad if someone declines your request it could simply mean they are busy or already have a number of chat windows open. If you are looking for sex you best move along.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about the part of the world you come from?
A: I live in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and am proud to call myself a redneck. One of the few states (Tennessee) with no income tax and other than that we are nothing special

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people in the AnybodyOutThere community know?
A: An obligatory nod to Justin Bieber. I had no clue who you were before AOT. I do not own a TV and have no cable at home. I believe in magic and love to share it with others. My favorite cartoon character is Bill The Cat. Meh! I am rather boring it would seem.

This week we thought we’d introduce you to Marisa.

Q: How did you find AnybodyOutThere?
A: Unlike the other people profiled here, I was invited to help test this site back in its inception. I’ve been here a long while; I’m the Grand Ol’ Dame of AOT.

Q: What keeps you coming back to the site?
A: The illicit drugs being secreted from the site through our keyboards. But in all seriousness…I keep coming back because I’ve met so many good people that I’ve learned from and loved, who have become my friends out of the site as well. I come back constantly for the new faces and the new perspectives and the new potential good friends.

Q: Who have you had some of your best chats with?
A: Everyone who isn’t looking for a significant other and actually wants to talk about something of substance.

Q: What do you like talking about on AnybodyOutThere?
A: I’ll talk about anything from geopolitics to Lady Gaga’s latest outfit to the price of bananas in Birmingham. I don’t know everything, but I can formulate an opinion on just about anything.

Q: How do you introduce yourself to someone you’re chatting to for the first time?
A: I say hello and state my name and ofter an e-handshake. If the person laughs and takes me up on it, I know we’re going to be great friends.

Q:  How did you come up with your username?
A: I just work with what my momma gave me.

Q: Name one thing you have learnt from the AnybodyOutThere community?
A: I’ve talked about the war in Afghanistan with a man in the Pakistani Army and I’ve talked about life and love with a woman from Egypt and I’ve learned that the things that make us different are far fewer and less important than the things we all look for and want in life. No matter where we come from, people can all be very good.

Q:  Any tips for AnybodyOutThere newbies.
A: Don’t make a chat request if you cant follow through. Don’t talk about your love life, no one cares….

Q: What’s one interesting fact about the part of the world you come from?
A: I come from a smallish city in the West where prostitution is legal.

Q: What’s one interesting fact about you that not many people in the AnybodyOutThere community know?
A: I was born with webbed toes which means I’m part duck and all superhero