intelligent-
I can understand that some people may be uncomfortable about meeting or even speaking to strangers they only know from this site.
1) There are a couple of girls who found a common interest on the “running” thread, and wanted to meet up to go running together.
2) The offer (not accepted) my wife and I extended to speak with a parent who was considering a school that I know quite well for her daughter.
3) A couple of guys who are interested in the same sugya getting together to learn (I haven’t seen it happen yet, but definitely a possibility).
4) People who may have helpful advice on touchy and personal issues (medical, family, etc.) based on their own experiences (such as one person who posted about the difficulty their son was having finding a yeshiva that met his needs).
– Once again, how can I possibly not offer to help with something as important as this? The rabonim / conference call arrangement described above can apply here, too.
5) A shadchan who may want to pass along his/her info to a single on this site based on stated interests and hashkofos.
Many people, probably including you, will disagree with some or all of my thinking.
Basically, in all of the above cases, I am weighing the good that can be done vs. the risk of contacting someone unknown.
This is also factoring in that this is a frum site and most posters have left somewhat of a trail as to what they’re like, how they think, and what their hashkofos are.