Interesting thread.

I have had tons of Tribe crushes over the years. Like Rich, I do end up meeting (and even dating) some of them. I think perhaps I've told one directly that I had a crush on him.
Most of the time, the in-person encounter has been better than the online flirting. Only rarely was it not. I think that for the most part, Tribe people are genuine. At least the ones I've been fortunate enough to meet, like Rich and Daria. I have had a crush on both of them for a long time. They are so much more lovable and adorable in real life ;)

Oh, sorry - you said don't name names, right?

Rich, what is a "cat partner"??? I don't know what that means.

I suppose there are intensities or categories of crushes. One is almost like playing Barbies. LOL! Completely unrealistic and has little to do with the actual person. It's not really a person, it's an object on which I place certain attributes. Usually for fulfilling some fantasy or other. As in: "He'd say, then I'd say, they he'd do, then I'd do." It's pretty much pure sexual fantasy with an object.

There are people that are somewhat realistic, in the sense I might be able to meet them, but that's unlikely. And usually there's something in there between the process of the first attraction and the getting to the point where one could meet, something happens. It's in the general fact revealing phase. As in: "Oh, so, you're married."

Most of this could be remedied if people were honest and upfront. The second category. I've gotten to the point where I have full out confessionals in my profile or tribe, so people can, if they choose, figure out why I'm so odd, long before that moment where someone feels upset. As in: "You're right, I don't get it, and here's why"

If the crush extends to Tribe, sure, why not? So many folks have computers, and if they have a computer, they are on some service somewhere. If they are on some service, they are there and there they are. Free to crush or be crushed. Er. Something like that.

I need some new crushes. They don't last long enough. They go rapidly downhill as I get to know them better. Like joining a new tribe and there are all these people I haven't met before. The frequent posters are the most likely to catch the attention, simply because they are there (that's a good tip for folks who want to be noticed...TALK MORE). It's all new and interesting.

Then later on, normalcy sets in. They aren't quite as interesting as they were, or quite as attractive, or quite as smart. It's a perception thing, not that they've necessarily changed, but I'm not having that flood of "newness" and that hope that springs eternal. Then it's more of thinking about whether or not I wish to continue to talk to them or read their posts, because I'm realizing they're...uh...kind of an ass. Not everyone, of course. Just some of the crushes.

Others just become more comfortable and less "crush-like" which is good. More like "friends". I'd gladly give up the charge of a crush for a continual level of comfort. Alas, these things don't generally transfer over into daily living, so I get restless and start looking for new tribes with different people. I don't get crushes on people that don't post. So it's really pretty limited here on Tribe.net.

Tons of members, yeah. Too many alts. A few people that post regularly. And some of those are "crushable". Generally folks that are married are not crushable. That's just weird to me. Those in relationships, not good crush material. Even though crushes are totally unrealistic, I'd prefer to have crushes on people that are actually available. LOL!