Never met but saying "I love you" - please read?

[sheri432]

Hi I know this is long but I really need opinions! Please take a minute and read if you can?

Okaaaaay, so my little brother (well not little he's just turned 17) is kind of a bit socially awkward. He's painfully shy in public and although he does have friends if I watch him with them I can always see cogs turning in his mind, he's always really trying to think what to say and how to stand and what to do to appear normal, it doesn't just come naturally to him. So that's just to give you an idea of what he's like He's a nice guy just a bit odd bless him.

Anyway, my question is how would you guys feel about this situation he's got himself in. He's met this girl on twitter apparently (I don't have it so don't get how it works, but he said that it recommends people who are following similar things to you - can anyone confirm this is true?) He said she's 16 and lives in Essex (whereas we live up north near Manchester!) He's been texting her for ages, has had a few chats on the phone with her, (my mum has heard a conversation and she said she heard like loads of girls and then my brother said to my mum "Kerry says hi")

My mum said to him how do you know she's not a big 20 stone minger covered in tattoos (basically she was trying to warn him she may not be who she says she is) but he says "oh no I know she's not because I've seen her on skype".

She sent him a birthday card in the post, on the front it said "to the world you may be just one person but to one person you may be the world" with two people cuddling on the front, and inside she's written happy birthday blah blah, and then "I love you my sweet (my brother's name), from Kerry, Mwah! xxx"

He's apparently planning to go and meet her in the summer to go to Hyde Park festival or something, but again as we live up north he'd be taking quite a trip it's not like he's just popping into town to meet some girl he's travelling across the country!

So what I'm asking is do you think this is okay? Half of me thinks this is a good thing, it's bringing him out of his shell, he's building self confidence by having a girl pay him compliments, if he meets her he'll break the contact barrier and have a first kiss etc which could start the ball rolling for future relationships, like he'll know what to do if you get me, and also she's definitely REAL as he's seen her on skype.

But the other half of me thinks it's not normal. He has never met this girl and she's saying I love you. He's planning on going to London to meet her for the first time in a few months and he'd be going alone I assume. Do you think this is alright, or should me and my mum drop hints to discourage him? Neither of us is too keen on the idea. Any opinions would be appreciated as long as they're not just insulting - he's not a creepy stalker he seems genuinely happy here and it's nice to see him opening up a bit. Thanks xx