Are online friends "real" friends?

[AreaCode707]

I say, totally. I have a couple of guys I talk to on the phone, chat with regularly on AIM, email on a consistent basis. With them, I know more about their lives and they know more about mine than many of my in-town friends. Still, I hear people argue that they can't be real friends over the internet. Why not? Are we that hooked on being together? We share experiences, on different forums and things. There are jokes that develop and serious conversations had. Opinions?

 

[Zim Hosein]

HotChic, I agree w/ you sometimes a 'net friend can be more of a friend than the people that you see and hang out w/ on a general basis.

 

[OS]

No, I have to meet them first.

Truth be told, I think this is a weak question to ask.

 

[0roo0roo]

i'd say no, then again i hate most of u 🙂

u exist for my amusement only because ai can't take over that role yet🙂

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

The only difference between some people I know online and my best friends who are here with me is that I cannot reach out and hug them with my own arms when they need it or when I feel like it. I care for some people online just as much as I do for others here with me.

 

[prodigy]

If online friends didn't count I would have no "real" friends.

 

[NARtheWang]

I would have to say that they are.. I tend to trust my "outside" friends more... but I have some really good online friends too and I trust them though they don't know everything

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: NARtheWang
I would have to say that they are.. I tend to trust my "outside" friends more... but I have some really good online friends too and I trust them though they don't know everything

I know *almost* everything about you, 😉

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
i'd say no, then again i hate most of u 🙂

u exist for my amusement only because ai can't take over that role yet🙂

you dont hate me, i know it!

 

[Kenazo]

HotChic; i'd say yes, are they a replacement for flesh and blood friends, i don't think so. Humans need physical interaction too I'm thinking.

 

[NARtheWang]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: NARtheWang
I would have to say that they are.. I tend to trust my "outside" friends more... but I have some really good online friends too and I trust them though they don't know everything

I know *almost* everything about you, 😉

you are about 3 things short of it all... so consider yourself loved 😉

 

[Adul]

i make friends everywhere 🙂, and a lot of times i want to meet these people in person.


fear me!

:Q😉

 

[JimmyEatWorld]

It depends on which types of online friends. Just because someone knows my middle name and knows what classes I'm taking this semester doesn't make them my friend. It may be good for people who just want to vent on someone and tell them stuff they can't tell in-town people, but otherwise its just dumb. I am alot more friendly on the internet with the people I befriend from internet games then I do my own reallife friends on AIM.

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: prodigy69
If online friends didn't count I would have no "real" friends.

that is so sad. assuming i didn't miss any sarcasm.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: NARtheWang

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: NARtheWang
I would have to say that they are.. I tend to trust my "outside" friends more... but I have some really good online friends too and I trust them though they don't know everything

I know *almost* everything about you, 😉

you are about 3 things short of it all... so consider yourself loved 😉

Three? I went down, used to only be one, didn't it? Does this have to do with my roommate? YOU'RE ENGAGED, I KNEW IT! 😛

 

[NARtheWang]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: NARtheWang


you are about 3 things short of it all... so consider yourself loved 😉

Three? I went down, used to only be one, didn't it? Does this have to do with my roommate? YOU'RE ENGAGED, I KNEW IT! 😛

SHHH!!! I don't want to tell people yet! 😉 I give room for error..

 

[d33pt]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
The only difference between some people I know online and my best friends who are here with me is that I cannot reach out and hug them with my own arms when they need it or when I feel like it. I care for some people online just as much as I do for others here with me.

aww that's so sweet.... i care about you too *HUG*

 

[CrazyDe1]

I have 2 girls online who I tell everything to. I would never consider telling any of my problems or anythign to any of my friends in real life. They're the ones that I go out with, drink with, have laughs with, but I would never let them know what bugs me. I wouldn't ever make my problems theirs. The 2 chicks online tell me everything about their personal lives too and we help each other through it...

In real life I like to seem like the kid that doesn't have any problems and just sits and makes jokes and has a good time all the time...I'm the kid everyone hangs out with because "there's no bullsh1t and all you do is have fun...I never have any problems."

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: CrazyDe1
I have 2 girls online who I tell everything to. I would never consider telling any of my problems or anythign to any of my friends in real life. They're the ones that I go out with, drink with, have laughs with, but I would never let them know what bugs me. I wouldn't ever make my problems theirs. The 2 chicks online tell me everything about their personal lives too and we help each other through it...

In real life I like to seem like the kid that doesn't have any problems and just sits and makes jokes and has a good time all the time...I'm the kid everyone hangs out with because "there's no bullsh1t and all you do is have fun...I never have any problems."

awww.... who ever knew you were a big pot of teenage emotion and angst? it's okay, i understand *hug* 😛



they're real friends, but a different type... the interaction is different imo

 

[BatmanNate]

You can't drink with your online buds. Actually, pretty much everyone I know online I knew locally first.

 

[BatmanNate]

😱

Or maybe you can, I'm double posting like a mofo.

 

[Kadarin]

Online friends are friends, but imho in a more transitory and ephemeral sense. You can interact online and establish and even grow close relationships, but there is a definite difference between interacting online and interacting in person. You can only share so much, and secondhand, online.

 

[ElFenix]

some of them. some are merely aquaintances.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: prodigy69
If online friends didn't count I would have no "real" friends.

prodigy69, if this is truly the case, you are not meeting the right people IMHO. Maybe it's time for a NYC ATOT meet?

 

[notfred]

IMO, no, online friends are not on the same level as real friends. Real friends buy you lunch when you're out of cash, they drive to San Francisco with you just cause you're bored. They help you work on your car. People online jsut can't do those things. I'm not saying that online relationships don't have any value, but they definitely don't have the same value as real relationships with real people. That's not to say that an online friendship can't develop into a real friendship or anything, but an online friendship just doesn't count for as much as a real friendship where you actually interact with someone in person.