Ramblings of an itinerant rocket scientist...

For me, it is much easier to meet someone -- to relax and be myself -- online compared with in-person social events. I like being around groups of people... but if someone I don't know strikes me as interesting or attractive in-person, I'm likely to make myself invisible -- to them in particular. Based on the rationale that the more interesting or attractive I find someone, the less interesting they are likely to find me (and hence a greater risk of rejection) in person.