Oppo do we know each other or is this all fake?

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
09/29/2014 at 10:01 • Filed to: Philosophical community question.

A little philosophical question for y'all. Many of us have been on here for at least a year and are fairly active. We talk everyday sometimes to certain people and maybe just maybe even have inside jokes. But does any of that mean anything. Do I actually know who you are without ever actually meeting you? I was thinking about this the other day and I wanted to hear your opinion on it. Sorry it isn't technically car related but it is community related.

DISCUSSION (76)

davedave1111 > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:04

We've been through this before. 99% of Opponauts are actually Joe Biden on a wind-up.

505Turbeaux > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:04

I know a few personally, and a few more of you through facebook, so that is a more direct connection. I knew you all enough to remember this on my Oppo-versary. And you know what, I missed you on that post, sorry http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/my-one-year-op…

Imirrelephant > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:06

I think we meet the most honest versions of each other. Think about it. We all know we like cars here and for the most part are willing to give advice on most anything. This is a place to be ourselves and the fact that we love cars is just what brought us here. Do we actually know each other? I say better than most people who meet us in person.

Leon711 > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 10:06

chances are I do know you Dave, I think you are UK based so I have a 1 in 65,000,000 chance.

Leadbull > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 10:06

I just wanted to forget that I'm from Delaware.

Why must you ruin my dreams?

Leadbull > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:08

First of all, we have to define "know".

Yeah, it seems kind of pedantic, but that's how philosophical discussions need to start.

Diesel > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:08

You don't know me!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:09

Not really I think. I found out some live near me but have never met them outside of here.

I would think its easier for people who live in the bigger cities to connect but who knows. There are lots of Oppo meet ups and some people knew each other before Oppo too I think.

William Byrd > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:11

I spent years on various forums when I was younger, first Car & Driver and then an offshoot created by some members called AutoWorld Forums and then renamed Tripleplate.com. I created some legit friendships on there and met a handful of folks IRL. I'm still FB friends with most of them and we can realistically say we know a lot about each others lives. Dave from Dayton OH's girlfriend just broke up with him yesterday, I felt bad.

So Oppo is much the same. I've met Jagvar, Juan Barnett, Patrick George, and a handful of others over the past year or however long I've been on here. I think that certainly ups the "I know you" aspect, as does FB, Twitter, etc. But regardless, I think you can interact virtually, and as long as people are being honest about who they are, what they do, etc., you can start to know them.

We had a guy who was in a full-on character in the old forum, used pictures of his cousin, pictures of an FD 3-rotor that wasn't his, etc. He pretended to be the guy he wanted to be and we all totally bought it. Pretty wild.

davedave1111 > Leon711
09/29/2014 at 10:12

It's always possible :)

Which part of the UK are you in? If I remember rightly there's a small bunch of Opponauts around the edges of London.

thebigbossyboss > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:12

Opponauts have A) given me beef jerky B) drove with me across a frozen river and B or C or whatever number we're on, helped me change my rear struts and power steering.

Leon711 > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 10:14

I'm on the south coast, in Shoreham-by-sea, a few miles out from Brighton.

yamahog > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:15

Psh, I know one ~~in the biblical sense.~~ Can't beat that.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:16

I have met almost every Colorado Opponaut. Ive met Nibbles, Huzer, BoulderZ, Itchys2, LoudMusic and I'm meeting NotInDetroit later today. I still havent met the other Denver, I think Enginrrr is in colorado, If So I havent met him and Monkey Puzzle Keeps ducking me. MonkeyPuzzle Works very close to my house, It would be incredibly easy for me to meet up with him for lunch or something

EL_ULY > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:18

OPPOnauts are a lot more real to me than some of my actual family.

davedave1111 > Leon711
09/29/2014 at 10:22

Ah, right, I'm N London, but I think a couple of others live really close to you. Who was it suggested meeting up at Brighton for the drag racing? Of course I forgot, but maybe next year...

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:24

Kinja'd!!!

JR1 > 505Turbeaux
09/29/2014 at 10:24

No biggy don't worry about it. I am still a freshman here anyway. I think I have another month or two before it becomes my first Oppo-versary.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:26

Just wanna say that every opponaut I've met irl has been a total bro. When I bought my Chrysler, total strangers came out of the woodwork to help me out on it. Bigbossyboss, Peter Negru and Stephen the Canuck to name a few. Y'all are fuckin awesome.

JR1 > William Byrd
09/29/2014 at 10:26

See that might be my biggest problem. I like to think I know some of the people on here but what if it is all a fabricated lie?

Leon711 > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 10:26

I'm still reasonably new to OPPO so it wasn't me. It's probably a bit late notice now but there is Goodwood breakfast club on this weekend, it's Hot Hatch Sunday, and unlike the speed trials it's free.

I bought my MX-5 in Barnet.

JR1 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/29/2014 at 10:27

Alright so then Oppo is like a bridge to meet people you are saying?

JR1 > Imirrelephant
09/29/2014 at 10:28

I can see where you are coming from. By having an avatar and a screen we can be ourselves more than we can in public that is a very interesting way of looking at it.

JR1 > thebigbossyboss
09/29/2014 at 10:29

But all of that was done in person. From a virtual standpoint on the other hand do you know any Opponauts

Tom McParland > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:30

I'm batman...oh wait no that's Pat Bateman...or is it?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:31

Not necessarily, I just wanted to make a point that I do know my area Oppos

JR1 > Leadbull
09/29/2014 at 10:32

Good point. Your definition and my definition of know may be different. I consider knowing someone to mean I know the basic facts of who they are, what they like, and maybe a little personal history as well. The big catch however is even if I do know that about certain people on Oppo I still have never actually seen that person which is a bit odd.

JR1 > EL_ULY
09/29/2014 at 10:32

I can agree to that statement which is weird considering the whole virtual thing.

JR1 > yamahog
09/29/2014 at 10:33

Nope you officially are the winner!

JR1 > Diesel
09/29/2014 at 10:34

Do you even go here?!

Leadbull > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:35

I think we're on the same page.

***

I would think that in order to know someone, you at least need to know their name. But that brings up another interesting question, of whether or not a screen name can substitute for a real one.

JR1 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/29/2014 at 10:36

Thats how I feel about restoring the 59 Lincoln . Total strangers where more than willing to help at the drop of a hat pretty awesome community

JR1 > Tom McParland
09/29/2014 at 10:37

ARE YOU PAT BATEMAN?

JR1 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
09/29/2014 at 10:38

Okay I get what you are saying. Good point

JR1 > Leadbull
09/29/2014 at 10:38

In my case it certainly does and I think in the context of this website it does as well. You choose your name because it identifies you in some way.

erikgrad > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:43

Time is a flat circle...

I think in this type of forum, it would be difficult to really know one another without making an effort to do so outside Oppo (it just isn't designed to know one another well) - but I still enjoy it.

Leadbull > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:43

I think you're right. I'm sure actual philosophers and sociologists have been discussing this, as well.

It's an important conversation to have, esp. since the internet shows no signs of slowing down.

JR1 > Leadbull
09/29/2014 at 10:49

I wouldn't be surprised if social scientist argue this point daily.

I like to think I know some of Oppo but then I haven't ever shaken their hand.

davedave1111 > Leon711
09/29/2014 at 10:55

"I bought my MX-5 in Barnet."

If it's black and Y-reg, you might have bought it off my dad :)

Diesel > JR1
09/29/2014 at 10:58

[pulls out wallet]

[checks for oppo card]

[finds card]

Yep, I go here.

Leon711 > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 11:00

it's green and S-reg, and the guy was Azim.

CAR_IS_MI > JR1
09/29/2014 at 11:04

I try to get out and meet my fellow Oppos. Met up with Wherehaveallthelightweightsgone in Chi-town, DssCats and a few others whos screen names I cant recall in LA, and Bird and Fiero and their shiny aero-cabin just last week while they were passing through town.

StoneCold > JR1
09/29/2014 at 11:07

I wouldn't mind meeting more Opponauts, but I'm embarrassed my project cars aren't done...so I'd be showing up in... an automatic Accord

davedave1111 > Leon711
09/29/2014 at 11:17

Doesn't sound like it, then. S-reg is the first of the newer shape? Or was that last of the old lot?

Bad Idea Hat > JR1
09/29/2014 at 11:20

Plato's cave sure as hell has some heavy car content.

Leon711 > davedave1111
09/29/2014 at 11:23

First of the newer. slightly more comfy, better interior and curvy shape. it's a daily driver so it rarely gets touched modifications wise.

JR1 > CAR_IS_MI
09/29/2014 at 11:28

So you know them from Oppo and meet them from arranged get togethers. Or did we "meet" the first time we talked on Oppo

davedave1111 > Leon711
09/29/2014 at 11:28

Yeah, same one my dad had. Very nice little cars, especially with the leather interior.

JR1 > Bad Idea Hat
09/29/2014 at 11:32

I wouldn't want to have it any other way!

Leadbull > JR1
09/29/2014 at 11:39

Kinja'd!!!

The future.

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
09/29/2014 at 11:46

OMG THIS TIMES 1000

EL_ULY > Brian Silvestro
09/29/2014 at 12:08

I just found out I have an aunt, uncle, and some cousins in Denver yesterday. But I know that my buddy Brian autocrosses his Fiesta ST, live somewhere in NY, and a whole heep of other rad things lol.

William Byrd > JR1
09/29/2014 at 12:19

I guess that's the philosophical bit. If you believe their story, and get some benefit from "knowing" them (or at least no harm is done) then in reality it shouldn't matter.

CAR_IS_MI > JR1
09/29/2014 at 12:22

Just people from oppo whom I have met along my travels.

zeontestpilot > JR1
09/29/2014 at 12:25

I'm actually a 12 yr old girl, so take that with a grain on salt.

Technically, we only know one attribute of each other, our gearhead side. With that, we can easily bond together, we don't need to show any other piece of ourselves to get along.

If you met me in person, you'd see my gearhead attribute, but you'd see other aspects of me. A husband, a father, a diecast collector, a cartoon watcher, a Christian, the list goes on.

So technically, no, you wouldn't know me. You only know what I let you know. Bit that doesn't mean we can't get along! :)

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
09/29/2014 at 12:32

And I know you l love nsfw, live in Texas, just bought a house, work at a Aston/Lotus/Volvo dealer as a parts manager, and attend many motorsports events.

Yay oppo!

EL_ULY > Brian Silvestro
09/29/2014 at 12:34

Xacto knife! This and many OPPOnauts. No fake at all..... maybe Nibby but that's just a maybe :] I'm almost positive that dude has more than one account here

Brian Silvestro > EL_ULY
09/29/2014 at 12:36

Sounds like something he'd do. He lives in NY too, I really want to meet him.

JR1 > William Byrd
09/29/2014 at 12:41

Might be the best answer I have gotten all day

JR1 > zeontestpilot
09/29/2014 at 12:43

Great point!

William Byrd > JR1
09/29/2014 at 13:21

Thanks!