25 M4F Let's be friends first!!

I'm a longtime lurker that just registered an account with the intention of posting here. One thing that's shocked me about this community is that so many people seemingly enter into explicit interactions with random strangers at the mere drop of a hat. That doesn't make sense to me. How does one talk about explicit things without first becoming friends with someone? Without establishing a trust, a sense of security, and having had some kind of meaningful conversation? Call me old fashioned but I think the pleasure in intimacy lies in the beauty of the human connection. In other words, little's enjoyable without actually knowing the person you're with.

Having said that, I write with the hopes of meeting someone with whom I can have worthwhile conversations, someone I can get to know as a person before there's even any mention of typical "dirtypenpal" things. I wonder if coming across such a person is even possible, but alas, I won't find out unless I post. All I care is that you put forth an honest effort in making conversation and that you write intelligently. I'm a graduate student myself and I greatly appreciate the written word.

A few random things about me to give you a sense of who I am, though I do prefer sharing more if and when we talk via messages: I'm 25, live on the west coast, love meeting new people, am often honest and direct with people even if it's to my own detriment. I'm tall, slim, enjoy keeping myself busy with sports, going out, reading, and traveling. All of that's just a brief description.

So if you're interested at all, then please send me a message. I'll do my best to respond as quickly as possible. Ideally, we'll become friends, enjoy our interactions, and move on to discussing more personal and intimate things if and when the timing is right. :)