Why wouldn't I want to meet someone I follow and adore you ask? Follow me down this rabbit hole if you will.
Content creators share a part of their lives with random strangers on the internet. They let us - the internet folk - see a snippet of their reality. It may be through carefully choreographed dances, or staged cosplays, or walks through their manicured gardens. They might share pieces of themselves through their blogs, or insights about themselves through their writing. Followers who relate to their content might feel like they've "gotten to know" the creator through these snippets.
Therein lies the problem. A content creator is also a human (most of the time anyway). They have a life outside of social media. They usually have a real job, a family, and hobbies outside of what they share on the internet. Most content creators appreciate privacy and the ability to live their lives outside of their social media personas.
So when you meet your favorite creator in person - you are a complete stranger to them. Maybe they'd recognize your screen name if you leave a lot of comments or likes or messages, but they don't know you... and you feel like you know them, at least a little. This causes a weird disparity in the social construct when meeting someone for the first time. It gives you the upper hand in perhaps knowing what the creator likes and being able to follow up with questions or topics of interest. It also puts them at a disadvantage, and could potentially make you look a little creepy if you cross the line into too much personal stuff.
I already struggle with social issues. I mean, I can hardly keep up with small talk, and social norms don't come naturally - I have to learn them. So boundaries are always an issue for me. What topics are OK and what aren't? If you put it on the internet, does that make it OK to talk about? Or is it more of a personal nature? And since I also struggle to make eye contact, it automatically makes me look a little shady.
So - as much as I absolutely love this one particular cosplayer right now, I'd never want to meet them in person. I think they're inspirational, they ooze creativity, and they're incredibly talented. I'm learning a lot from watching their videos and reading their blogs. I can relate to them on multiple levels, and I am thoroughly entertained by the content that they provide. As much as I'd love to write them a message or something thanking them for sharing their content with the world, my personal guidelines are to maintain "no contact" with my absolute favorite creators. I'd rather my role models never know I exist than have an awkward interaction that leaves them thinking I'm some kind of a creep or having a negative impression of me. Weird? Maybe. But the idea is there to protect my mental health and save me from feeling like a total dweeb in front of someone I have the utmost respect for.
That said - from the flip side, as a content creator (albeit a much less talented one), I think it's great fun when people recognize me. It doesn't happen often, but I try to be cordial and polite when approached by someone. If you see me somewhere, please come up and say hello.
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Special note - If you know the content creator that I'm currently following and absorbing information from, please do not tag them. Like I said, I'd rather be nobody to them than to be seen and acknowledged.