I have met up with loads of pilots, UK and even more abroad, who I had previously "met" electronically. I do this quite a lot.
Obviously I would have never tried to meet up with somebody who was previously obnoxious to me in their online persona (in fact I try hard to avoid going anywhere where one might meet up with those types) but those I have met have turned out to be, with about 2 exceptions, extremely decent people.
Regarding picking fights with some types, there is a saying: never fight with a pig, because you both get covered in !!!!! and the pig will love it
