Welcome aboard.
Having been here for some time, to answer the question regarding 'meet ups'; it does happen. There can be many reasons people meet. I know of several couples who have ended up marrying after meeting on-line here. I have seen others meet just for a single night in a motel. When you take on-line, off-line, the normal rules of social interactions apply. Beginning here, the interest in each other has to be mutual. Other factors apply, location being the biggest hurdle in a global chat/forum. But even that is no obstacle to some. People have crossed oceans, crossed countries, crossed states and counties, crossed cities and crossed the street when sufficient mutual interest exists. Some only need a brief chat to find that mutual interest. Others need months or even years to really get to know someone before considering it. Many have no desire to ever meet anyone. There is no 'one rule fits all'. I met a local man here. We chatted online for over a year before considering a face to face, even though we lived 10 minutes drive apart. So, it does happen.
Ls x