Are Online Friends "Real Friends"?

Great question and topic, Tracey. So far, I've only met one person in real life who I "met" online. I'm in Maryland and she's in Boston, so when I was up there for a visit in March we got together. It was great, but I couldn't believe how NERVOUS I got about meeting up with her - would she still think I was cool? ; ) It went so well, and I know that if we'd met in person first, we would have been friends. I think there's also a tendency for some of us to share more in email than we may right off the bat in person, for whatever reason, so maybe that lends itself to more bonding.

Like real life, I've met some people online who I thought were great, but we fell out of touch and it didn't really last. And there are people I initially knew in real life who I only get to communicate with through email and the blog, because they're on another coast now, so maybe by meeting online first, we just flip the script? There is a natural challenge with physical distance, and my best friends are still my oldest - those whose faces and voices have been part of my daily in-person life, and who have picked me up off the floor when I've been in some challenging times. Still, I'm quite sure that good friends can offer support in a variety of ways and the computer is one of them.

Thanks again for floating the topic. I'm interested to hear what others have to say. Laurie

lauriewrites

I have met over 65 food bloggers in San francisco, new york london and Paris. Some of these have become extremely close friends, especially the special ones in SF with whom I have been able to bond with face to face and meet regularly. I am sure others would be just as good close friends if I had better access to them.

I am friendly also with dozens of food bloggers I have never had the pleasure to meet in person, but of those who I haven't met, there is just one very special one who has become very important in my life. She is the one whom I share things I wouldnt share with anyone else in the world. This came about when we accidentally discovered we shared a common tragedy, and now we know we are there for each other, to talk online, whenever we need. I doubt I will ever meet her or indeed even speak on the phone, but we definitely have a special, albeit kind ofsecret relationship. I am glad to have virtually have met her. for sure.

SAM

my little Link Textblog and was amazed at all the cool friends I have made because of the internet.

It is funny though...I still tend to separate them in my head into IRL friends and Online friends, despite the fact that I see the online people in real life too!

It is like I can't have my cyber friends meet the 'real' friends for fear of a clash of of paradoxical universes and the subsequent explosion.

I think for me anyway, it is because most of my 'mommy' friends have been acquired on the 'net, while my real life friends are a product of long years of shared experiences that came to a screeching halt when I decided to breed. Most of my friends have not committed this act.

But I still count myself lucky for the ability to dive into the cyber community and get the support and laughter and so on that I need to keep going in my daily real life!

I consider some of my online friends to be more dependable than my "real life" friends. I don't think there is a huge difference really.

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My blog address is: www.delectual.blogsplot.net

When we grow up, work, get married, have kids, our world sort of shrinks. We lose touch with people, understandably.

I've been online for over 11 years, and have made close friends over the past 5 that I keep in near-constant contact with. If I email a friend about having a lousy day, that gets passed on, 20 minutes later I'm getting a telephone call from another friend to cheer me up. They're just as dependable as real life friends.

I was lucky enough to meet a few of my online forum/blogging buddies at annual training that I attend (autodesk university), where I'd previously hidden in a corner. I later married one of those friends. ;) In real life, he'd never have been confident enough to approach me.

Also, I can say that you grow real feelings and real attachments to people... I recently lost one of my best email buddies and the pain that I felt was as real as anything.
http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/2006/08/for-sid.html

You can let down your guard in electronic communications like you can't in real life. We show one another more of our true selves than we do anyone but our spouses.

Powerful connections can be formed, without a doubt.