Do you consider an online friendship just as real as any other friendship....?

Question

even if you've never met the person face to face?

Are friendships too easily formed via the internet?

What factors into your decision to befriend someone online?

In your opinion, are having more friends on here, better than having only a few? If so, do you find it easy, truly getting to know a variety of people, intimately?

Answer 1

As with real life, I think people confuse acquaintances for friends. A friend is someone who you actually know on a personal level rather than someone you are friendly with at school or work. If you meet someone on-line and spend the time getting to know them, they can be just as good of a friend as someone you know in the real world. The key is that you spend the time actually talking/chatting with them and getting to know one another just as you would in the real world.

People are always quick to throw out warning about using caution when meeting people on-line because you never know who you can trust and who you can't. But is this really any different than the real world? I actually believe that most people you interact with on-line are basically being themselves and not pretending to be someone else. Besides, the internet allows you to find people with common interests easier than in the real world and that is usually one of the best starting points for a friendship.

Answer 2

Frankly, no, I don't think online friendships are just as real nor safe as any other friendship. People can change their personality online and could be a totally different person face to face. I've experienced this. Yes, they are too easily formed because you have no proof underneath that they are nice people. To make friends with someone online, I have to be linked with them in some way, I won't go around talking to strangers. As for the last question, I think the few friends is better because they may be closer than a lot of friends on here.

Answer 3

Online friendships are just as real as face to face friendships. The friendship is based on communication and trust! I have some friends online that I'd trust with my life over friends I have in real life. My best friend is a face to face friend, however all of my other besties are people I've met online.

Friendships sometimes are too easily formed and too easily dropped over the internet, however you can tell by messaging someone, iming them, talking to them over the phone etc if they are a friend that is going to stay or just up and leave for no reason.

I guess factors over the internet are basically the same as in person... you look for someone you can communicate with, hold a conversation with, someone that can make you laugh, someone that can make you feel better, someone you can trust, someone you can count on etc.

I enjoy meeting variety of people on here.... because in some cases there are people on here that you begin talking to that you might have not talked to if face to face. It give you opportunity for growth in various aspects!

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Although online friendships are formed more easily than others, they are still relationships just like any other. I don't think that you need to meet a person face to face in order to be friends with them. For me, the factors in befriending someone online are the same as befriending someone offline. I would be more careful though. The great thing about the internet is that you can meet such a diverse group of people, so if you have a lot of online friends, good for you!

Answer 5

I don't put the time into getting to know people over the net intimately the way I once did. It was fun back in the day when it was new and different, and chances are talking to someone online had a way of creating an environment for you to have an encounter with someone but these days people are more gaurded and it isn't as easy to talk to someone online as it once was.

I have a few friends on here but don't initiate any conversations with them. I figure if I answer their questions here that's well enough. One thing I had to figure out is that just because the friendship isn't necessarily real for you does not mean that it isn't for that other person. A lot of problems online happen when one person is more or less trolling that other person and the one being followed doesn't respond to them or are busy doing other things. Too many people want to have your undivided attention when speaking to them online, which isn't realistic because the whole point of an online friendship is to spread yourself thin and get to know yourself better through your interactions with other people. I found myself in situations where I would start a good conversation with one person, and then another would talk to me on the side and I would want to speak with that second person because their convo was more engaging but the first one had issues and so on and so forth. Some people want you to stop whatever you're doing and give them all of your attention whenever they see you in the room, and that isn't realistic.

It's like anything else, people who shift around tend to get ahead while people who are a bit slower and put more into one on one relationships are trying to isolate the individual who doesn't want to be set aside. It's better to have some form of agreed upon or mutual relationship before that can occur, rather than to expect it or demand it, when I am still in that process of getting to know you. Though I do understand how that is because I tend to do it a lot myself.

It isn't necessarily better to have a lot of friends online, but it is good to be in regular communication with a few people. But yes it is easy to get to know people intimately if you're open and willing to do so. The net can take you into some, really interesting places with people if you're up for it.

Answer 6

No, you can never have that one on one, face in the face, hand in hand relationship long distance thru a computer. I have met some really nice people, I think anyways, over the internet and really wished that I could be there in person for them to comfort, have a cup of coffee with, curl up and listen to some sounds or whatever you normally do with a "friend".
I believe acquantainces can be formed easily on the internet, but not friendships as stated above.
My choice to call someone a friend online, depends on how well they can communicate with me and our common interests.
I limit myself to how many people I want to be considered a friend online... you just seem to loose touch if you have too many. You can't get to know anyone intimately online, without eye to eye and that touch factor...

Answer 7

I think it is possible to connect with someone over the internet. However, the internet is only one setting and as any friendship, you may over time need to see the person in different settings in order to test the friendship.
Currently I am in an online program and meeting people so different from me. The internet does give you an opportunity to meet people you would not normally meet. On the other hand, you can also meet a lot of toxic people. So discretion is key.

Answer 8

Ahh I had a friend I met online when I was 12. We pretty much talked until I was 17 years old and even still stay in contact. It's kinda crazy, but I'd never like meet him or anything. Just someone fun to chat with because we have similar interests. Of course you have to ensure that the person is who they say they are before you should trust them with any info. Even by talking to this guy for a while, I still do not give him my number or address or anything...just do it right and you can have someone good to talk to about fun things. :-)

Answer 9

Friendships on the internet are different than friends in your everyday life, but they are still your friends. My husband and I have talked to the same friend for over three years now on the internet. We don't go looking to make close friendships online, but if we run across someone we think is interesting or nice, we talk to them from time to time.

Answer 10

for me online friendships are not real. that is to say, how can you have a friend you know nothing about and lets face it, you only know what they tell you. you dont even know if they look the way they say they look. having said all that, some people only have online friends, which is very sad for them. its nice to chat with people from other places but you can't really consider anyone a friend until you at least meet them.