What do you think of online friendships?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I had a five year "on line" relationship with an "Aussie. I got to know her family and herself quite well. She, also with me. Unfortunately both of us have had long health issues where we couldn't email. But I also had another online relationship. This one with another veteran. He began sending me pix of fully clothed females. Gradually ,the models got younger and younger. Then there was no way they were 18. I terminated the relationship. He gave me the "willies'. So for me, for online relationships, it's one-Yes, one-No. Today, I'm happy with Senior Forum.
 

I have a lot of long time online friendships..I have met a lot of them face to face and many phone conversations.. Some for 10 to 20 years now.

We also have a private Facebook Page with over 25 members..We post things that need not be on our family/friends page.
 
I've met some wonderful people and learned a great deal from them but never formed what I would call a relationship.

I always feel sad when a good person that I've come to know feels it's time to move on.

"Not so much two ships passing in the night as two ships sailing together for a time but always bound for different ports."[FONT=&quot] - P.D. James[/FONT]
 

I have a few online friends that I've known for several years, and it's been great having them in my life. I've also made a few "acquaintances" that were culled after it became apparent that we were not aligned in our interests or beliefs or whatever.

Online friendships and conversations keep many isolated people from being lonely.
 
Ive made quite a few online friends...some I’ve kept, some I haven’t.

My oldest online friend would be falcon. Going on 15 years with some ups and downs. He’s one I’ve met in person.
 
I have developed a few online friendship on Facebook because of a couple games I play in which they also play. They have never progressed outside of there. Several years ago I became friendly with a couple other ladies on other forums and we occasionally exchanged emails. That's about it for me.
 
I have chatted online through a game that I play, and follow a couple of those folks on Facebook. That step took years, literally. However, lately, someone invited me to play that game and instantly started chatting me up. When he/she asked if I was married after only playing a short time, I resigned the game. Scammers are everywhere and you can't be too careful.
 
I have internet friends I stay in touch with and have met some in person. One friend is from Scotland. They were positive experiences. Unfortunately I’ve met some others who I have befriended who became incredibly controlling of who else I spoke with and I’ve had to let them go. The only one who I occasionally allow to do that is my husband and even then , it’s not often.
 
Over the years I’ve had two very upsetting experiences with online ‘friends’ one of them after a petty disagreement, sent me a spiteful PM saying, among other things, my late boyfriend had a ’lucky escape’ and I would end up alone, not even my daughter would want me...

I put it down to ignorance and blocked her, but it made me extra careful of making online friends, having said that, I have a few I’ve known for years and would consider meeting if distance was not an issue
 
Wren said:
Over the years I’ve had two very upsetting experiences with online ‘friends’ one of them after a petty disagreement, sent me a spiteful PM saying, among other things, my late boyfriend had a ’lucky escape’ and I would end up alone, not even my daughter would want me...

I put it down to ignorance and blocked her, but it made me extra careful of making online friends, having said that, I have a few I’ve known for years and would consider meeting if distance was not an issue
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My God wren, that's the sort of thing you'd expect of some one with mental issues not someone you regard as a friend!! How horrible for you... glad you blocked her, I've had to do the same with a few over the years.

Spitefulness by some people for no apparent reason, is something I just put down to sheer jealousy!!
 
Wren said:
Over the years I’ve had two very upsetting experiences with online ‘friends’ one of them after a petty disagreement, sent me a spiteful PM saying, among other things, my late boyfriend had a ’lucky escape’ and I would end up alone, not even my daughter would want me...

I put it down to ignorance and blocked her, but it made me extra careful of making online friends, having said that, I have a few I’ve known for years and would consider meeting if distance was not an issue
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Thats the downside to the internet. You never really know who you are talking with or why they behave the way they do.
Most people have issues. Some people are just better at hiding them than others. Good luck Wren.
 
"Online friendships", as in "other forum users whom I've never met nor ever expect to meet"? (Like all of you lovely people)

:bigwink:

They're like fictional characters in a good book series ... but interactive! They're not "real" in any practical sense, yet still engaging personalities that I come to enjoy to a greater or lesser degree. I hope that doesn't offend anyone.

I am truthful in my own posts, as I expect most of you are as well. Still, you never know. As long as we're judicious in what we post and our semi-mythical online friends remain in character, it's a wonderful, harmless illusion.

Btw, Tommy is not a highly creative 24 year old girl living in an apartment the Bronx. Trust me. (right ... ?)
 
I've had a myriad of internet friendships, and regret two of them. Some people are only your friend as long as they're getting what they want from you, but never give back. I have long-
time friendships with two people who I'm in touch with via email/phone. We're talking 16-17 years.
 
I exchange e-mails with several people....mostly some of the people I worked with years ago...nice to stay in touch. I don't use any social media. I am somewhat concerned about our oldest great granddaughter who is increasingly becoming attached to Facebook....it seems that when the news reports a young girl getting abducted, and raped, or worse....it all starts with conversations with strangers on Facebook or Twitter, etc.
 
If you cultivate online friendships you have to accept they can end just like ,with no warning.Two in particular I can think of.One friend just suddenly stopped posting.Given where they live I fear something untoward happened .No one has heard from them in two years.Their account in another place remains dormant.Another just decided to have nothing to do with me.No idea why.Still see them posting in various places.But others have been going a while with daily contact on various forums and word game apps.
Do I want to meet any of them?Well on the sites where members hold meets I have so far resisted.But if one was held in my area who knows?
 
I have had a few on line friends and still have,
all here are friends in my eyes.

Over the years I have actually met a few and
others I have spoken with on the phone, but
I have never felt threatened, if somebody has
a "Go" about a post I make, then I just ignore
that person and move on, there have been so
few of those that I can't remember how many,
nor do I care.

Mike.
 
Never thought much about it, but have friends from over twenty years now

Four of us guys from a now defunct demotivation poster site email each other about once a week
I consider them good friends

Some folks here I’ve come to have a warm cherished feeling for

Online friends are the best the web has to offer me, as they are never an intrusion, and always a treat
 
I have several close online friends, who I would like to meet in person. One online friend has been close to me for over 50 years. Back when we started it was letters not the internet and we've been to each others homes with our families.
 
I have quite a few online friends, some of them for over 20 years. Several I've met in person, and we visit back and forth from time to time, as our schedules permit. I am always up for a face-to-face meeting with online friends, though I'm careful initially. Even though I may feel like I know them as well as I know my real life friends, it's still smart to be vigilant until I figure out if they're straight arrows. So far I haven't been disappointed, but I continue to remain careful just in case.
 
I tend to reserve the term "friend" only for people I know IRL and have spent considerable time with. Most people I consider friends I've known and interacted (in person) with for decades.

As far as online, often people feel safe because of the anonymity. But there are red flags. When you email or PM with someone you take a risk they will pass information to others. I'm leery when someone tells me "don't tell anyone that I told you this, but..." hmmmm. :whome: In fact, there are people who spend so much time emailing and PMing and gossiping about other forum members that they probably have callouses & blisters on their fingertips. :laugh:
 

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