Who do you want to meet from your online community?

Who would you like to meet from that community where you spend hours?

Who would you like to meet from that community where you spend hours every day? The question seems trivial, but it hides an economic paradox: the value of social capital accumulated over years of digital interaction. In a community of economic debate, where investments, housing, and salaries are discussed, the question shifted to the personal: who would you like to meet in person?

The answers reveal a pattern: people choose those with whom they share interests, humor, or knowledge. Some propose a sumptuous dinner with Spanish omelet and fresh foie gras, others prefer a mountain hike, while others sign up for a card game with gin and tonics. The fantasy of the perfect meeting is fueled by years of cross-reading.

But skepticism also appears. The "dark forest theory" is mentioned as a metaphor: on the internet, no one knows who is on the other side, and meeting someone can be a risk. One person recalls a meeting in Móstoles 15 years ago that forged a lasting friendship, but one of them is no longer here. The irony: real life always wins, and sometimes with irreversible consequences.

In the end, the question remains open. Perhaps the best thing is to keep reading their messages and not risk discovering that the genius of investment debates is a bald man of 78 kilos who has no car. Digital distance protects the illusion.