Internet Relationships!

[bearsboi]

I'm writing an ethnographic essay and I need some opinions. Before we begin, I'd like to make it clear that when I say "relationships" I mean all kinds, friendships, intimate ones, etc. So, what are your opinions on internet relationships? When do they work and when do they fail? What criteria must be met for one to succeed? How many people have you met on the internet, and of them, how many have become close friends? How would you compare an internet relationship to a real life one? Any and all input is appreciated, but please keep it clean and respectful :)

[George Floyd Gaming]

adding a someone who i have never met to my friends list is uncomfortable, thats why i often remove strangers off my friends list even if they are kind. right now i have 3 strangers in my friend list but i feel bad if i remove them

[Johnny-Boy]

Some people have cursed me for saying this but I don't really think you are 'together' with your "boyfriend/girlfriend" if you have only met online and never in person...
Or if you spend more time chatting online than in real life.
Now... get your torches and pitchforks ready. I'mmmm ready.

[Dominic]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Ketchup:

Some people have cursed me for saying this but I don't really think you are 'together' with your "boyfriend/girlfriend" if you have only met online and never in person...
Or if you spend more time chatting online than in real life.
Now... get your torches and pitchforks ready. I'mmmm ready. :partygoblin:

Nah I think that seems reasonable.

[it's love]

Internet friendships? Yes, they work. You can make friends for life online, you don't need real life contact to stay friends.

Romantic relationship? Unless you plan on moving into a house together soon or moving somewhere close next to each other then hell no, don't waste your time.
A romantic relationship needs real life contact to stay strong, you just don't get that if you're both on different sides of the planet. Over time you'll grow paranoia, it's unavoidable. The only contact you experience is hearing their voice and seeing their face, it's just not enough. You can't hold their hand, you can't hold them in your arms, you can't snuggle, you can't sit around on the couch watching ♥♥♥♥♥♥ rom coms. All these little things are needed to sustain a relationship.
If people are very dedicated, and they do have future plans to meet then there's a very slim chance it'll work out. But most likely it'll fizzle out over time and one day it'll end, and then you'll be crying for weeks over some person you talked on the internet for a while with. Not worth the bother.

[Kris]

1. I've met a couple friends over the internet that I would consider myself pretty close to. I also met my boyfriend on here. I think they can be healthy.
2. I'd say friendships work most of the time. I personally share more online, because it's easier, and so do my friends. That builds up trust between us, more than any real life friends I've known. Romantic relationships, on the other hand, I don't think they work out as often as friendships. It's just harder to keep up. Possibly partially because most romantic relationships involve physical contact of some sort, even if it's just a hug or cuddling.
3. For friendships, I would say both need to be open and "hang out" with each other enough to keep the relationship up. For romantic relationships, I think you would need to somehow meet them in person. That generally makes things more personal and gets people to be more invested in it.
4. I've met hundreds of people on the internet, heh. I only got close to three. That includes my boyfriend.
5. Honestly I think my online relationships are better than my real ones. We rarely fight, we're more open. We're not afraid to talk about our feelings. We play together online and talk more, and yet we can still keep our space because there's no need to go out in person all the time. I'm a bit of a loner in real life and don't really go out with friends. I get my share of friendly socialization online, which is better for me because I don't care for going out anyway.

[Zireth]

Great friends with someone I met when I had to calm down a friend and her. We talk about life and girl stuff, like dresses, makeup, goth things, relationships, health, etc.

[C4Warr10r]

For a long time I had a rule against internet dating, and with good reason. Real relationships need to be grown, they are a product of people interacting together, there is just no way to build a relationship, especially a romantic once, over the internet. There is no common experience but language to start from, and people communicate all too easily without consequence.

In truth, there is something beautiful about that. The sheer will we have to express ourselves and be better as a species is what drives us to do miraculous things. That it manifests so easily when we are free to express ourselves is no small wonder. What have we ever desired, as a species, but to communicate? To let another know our mind?

Yet that will must be tempered. Unrestrained will is childhood, And so we all play about here, trying to express what we will. We are all children.

But I have seen better come of it. Through Truth of Purpose, through sincere acts, I have helped other veterans. Through commitment I have helped wargaming enthusiasts restore historic vessels. We made a true community out of internet relatonships.

That is the key, it's what makes any relationship real. The will to actually do something. And so I was wrong, even in the face of my own experience I was wrong. You can build everything humanity has ever accompllished, if you just have the will for it.

[bearsboi]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Awaken:

OP's true objective is to make a decision whether or not he should hit on his internet "friend" or not. Using the posters testimonies as motivation.

Funny lol But no. I'm being entirely honest with this post :)

[bearsboi]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Fusion:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Fusion:

I would help but my answer wouldn't be anonymous. If you want you could add me for a bit. Just make sure you have your survey questions at the ready.

Thank you but I have finished the essay. You are welcome to contribute to the thread in any way you wish :)

[Good Hunter]

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Omabear:

โพสต์ดั้งเดิมโดย Fusion:

Thank you but I have finished the essay. You are welcome to contribute to the thread in any way you wish :)

I hope it is recevied well.

[[FFK3] Trovaa]

For those of you saying internet relationships of any kinds don't work
watch this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzZE1oeqh7o