I believe that you are wrong; the Internet can be as real a medium as any other. All it takes is for the parties involved, to be honest with, and to trust, each other. I for one have fallen deeply in love with someone I have never met; she and I talk each day, for two hours (at least) over the Internet. We send each other pictures, poems, jokes, letters, emails, songs… you name it… we have our very own language. This relationship is more real than anything I’ve ever had, and one day, I will meet her–I have faith that everything will work out.

She has heard my voice, but I have not hers. However, I don’t care what you think, I am in love, and so is she. Our daily time spent together, and our commitment, serve as testament to our faith in each other.

I realize this might not work for all people, my girlfriend’s brother, (yes I call her my girlfriend), for example, met his wife through the Internet, much like the way I met her. Although I should mention, to be honest, that they are planning a divorce. But regardless, it’s all in the eye of the beholders–if the parties involved can be honest, this medium can be more real than any other.

Do people not lie in person? Do people not embellish and diminish the truth face to face, on the phone, voice to voice? Do the blind and deaf not love? Why should this be any different? Sure the temptation might be stronger for deceit here, but must it be so? Is that not your fault? And should this failure to be honest, COMPLETELY honest, apply to all? So you people say this… because you are incapable of staying true via this medium? But do you not come here each day, to interact? Do you not send emails and e-cards to those you do love? And do these diminish your integrity?

I would not go as far as saying that all people can have good online relationships, but I will say, that an internet relationship can (and I do stress can here) be more real than a ‘real life’ relationship. For if the parties involved stay true, they will be forced to speak of matters, difficult matters, they might not ever address in person. For is it not more difficult to discuss the torments in our lives when someone we know not pries into our eyes?

Why must we be dishonest by necessity? And if I am being too forceful, why must you think it compulsory? Perhaps the basic realities of the dishonesty of ‘real’ life, is the cause of your doubt? Perhaps it is you who have not the strength to bear it all to begin with?

Now let me be clear: the temptation to deceive, to embellish and diminish the truth, although more palpable, does not necessarily imply deception. In fact, I argue here, that should the temptation be surpassed and weathered, this type of relation can be more real than the real you imagine. Yet, do not be fooled, nor be naïve enough to imagine I believe all people all the time concerning their online assertions. I used to be a professional online poker player, and without boasting, I can say that I had developed a knack for reading beneath and behind the lines…. There is a way to tell, just pay close attention and look for patterns of behavior. Most people are predictable over time, very predictable, and an escape from a pattern, usually indicates a shift from the truth.

I for one am living a great online relationship. She loves me, and I her. This is best time of my life. If only you knew and could see, how far from superficiality we are. I trust her with all I’ve got, and that’s more than I can say about people I already know face to face. If we can make it to our eventual meeting, our love will be deeper than you might ever imagine. So think what you will… I believe that we will make it. All it takes is love, and everything else follows–honesty, trust and patience–I for one, have faith.

God Bless, and peace be with you.

I don’t think so. You can be pretty close, but not as close, and not nearly as easily. Misunderstandings are much easier online, and the development of friendship is slower because of it…

It really depends on the situation. There are of course 60 year old men who want to kidnap you, as well as 9 year old girls acting as models. On the other hand, there are people just like you: they have real lives and are who they say they are. Hopefully we’re all like that? When someone says ‘i’m so hot’, however, that’s a warning sign that they aren’t in fact, and are probably someone you would puke at when you see them.

The fact that the internet is worldwide really opens up the possibilities. My friend is best friends with a girl in australia, and via care2.com I’ve met lots of people who are interested in the same causes as me, and we’re not friends in the sense of we talk all the time, but we stand up for eachother in the discussion boards and know eachother, etc. Internet also helps you meet people you would never have met in real life. My father met his wife online, my mom’s friend met her husband online, and by chance on Final Fantasy 11 I met my fiance online.

The trick is, if you want to establish a real relationship, either in real life or you wnat to be sure they are who they say they are, is to get them on webcam. Pictures aren’t enough, theres no guarantee that’s them. If you get lots of pictures of the same person, theres more of a chance it’s not some random picture of a hottie. Webcam’s the best, however, there’s no way to be decieved. If you meet someone in real life before seeing them on webcam, then for all you know they could be a kidnapper. Also, if the friendship develops quickly, then it’s probably not real. If it develops over time, with lots of trust, then yes, that’s real friendship—just like in real life.

I think it’s much easier to be who you truly are online. Feels like you don’t have to be someone you are not, or you do not have to walk around with a mask on. It’s also easier to hook up with people who share the same views on life as you. BUT of course, you will always have those one that totally lie about being who they are for whatever reason. But, I have to say that in real life, it’s basically the same. You can meet people and they might deceive you all the same. So in a nutshell, I think it is possible to find real friends online. Of course, that’s if you are willing to accept the fact that they might be far away and you might never meet. But, how is that any different from someone moving in a different country and writting friends from back home, or having a pen pal.

I say, you can find frienship just about anywhere at anytime if you are open to it!

Friendship is ,of course, based in trust. We will tend towards befriending those who are of like mind. If you believe that you can develope a true relationship of trust with a person who you cannot see than of course their friendship can be a close one.

However, do I belive one should trust one who they have never seen. Absolutly not. There is so much more to communication than that of simple conversation. There is tone of voice, body language, etc. Because it is so easy for someone to decieve in the environment of the internet one should always believe that any ‘relationship’ developed within its bounderies is one that still is to be tested.

I think online freinds are true freinds, they have helpped me through alot of bullshit in my life and I trust some of them more then I trust some of my family. you just have to get to know them, talk on the phone and stuff… send snail mail letters and such. I have some good online freinds who would fly down and help me if I needed it and I would do the same… maybe it’s because I’ve known them for 5 years or so.

Since I am what they call emotional, clingy and dependant(supposedly weak traits); I may develop a friendship easily, even travel around the world to hook up. Others may keep it within different personal bounderies. This is directly dependent on personality profiles, so there will be a variety of answers.

It can be real, I have many online friends. I trust them more than I trust my real friends, why? Because since they are so far away, there is less chance for them to backstab me and I find out about it from someone other than them. Plus if I get sick of them, I can turn my computer off. I trust most of my online friends so much, that many I have talked to on the phone, and send/recieve things in the mail, meaning they know my address. People think that this is a bad idea because they can like bomb you, well, people you see every day in the flesh can’t? On one of my short road trips I might stop by and stay at one of my online friend’s house, then we will be living-fresh friends as well. Once while playing an online game, I accidently ran into my real neighbor, that I had never talked to before. So being online can bring many people, that live 30 feet away from each other, together and create new bonds and friendships. So yes, it is real.

No, they are only imaginary friends. If you get something out of the relationship, it does not matter that it was actually from a 26 year old man instead of the 14 year old girl you thought it was… The problem arises if you want the relationship to go further, and get more out of it than it can in reality offer- that is where the imaginary friend breaks down… So it is only within executable limits of expectations and uses that the imaginary friend is as true a friend as a real one. Beyond that, poof.

I, for one, am someone who didn’t have the priveledge of using a computer or internet until I was over the age of 20. And by then I was living on my own with a fiance and a child.

I personally believe YES it is possible to form true friendships with people over the internet. I guess you’ll never really know unless you practice true and safe measures, and even then you can never be 100% sure unless you met them in person (which can be frightening as well).

I also believe people abuse the internet. This is something that should be amazing and a gift – to be able to easily converse and relate to other people of many cultures through out the world! let alone country. And that my friends – is a beautiful thing. We should be using this to talk to people in Japan and make pen pals and friends through out the entire world instead of sitting our butts in one chat room and pick people apart or create a facade for fun. It’s ashame, but true. So yes, i think it’s possible but seldom.

This is an interesting idea. My best friend, my Sam, I met her once about…four years ago for a week at camp. She moved to NY (Im in NC) and we were pen pals. We did that and then talked on the PC for 3 years. I am closer to her than anyone else on earth. So..obviously I believe that that friendship is real, and I know that. But I’ve never had someone I met on the internet who I would want to meet in real life. That’s just odd to me. I don’t think I could do that, but some people do. It depends on personal preference, and stuff like that.

I think that it is all a matter of beleife on your part. If you believe that you are true friends with this other person, then that makes it true. Any friendship is the same way, regardless if you have ever seen the person or not.

You can be real friends with someone online, if you take it serious as a friendship. If it’s just someone you screw with, like in CB on AllPoetry… I’m not so sure.

...All of you friendly at this point. and would easily accept the further development of a friendship, or not. Don’t get me wrong though. I’m not desperately lonely or looking for new friends either. I would like to say this though: I talk to so many on-line now that I feel I never give all, my full attention. Since I DO consider you all my friends, I tend to feel guilty when I am away too long. I guess that means I care in an internet sort of way and to me, that is a friendly thought.

Not as good friends but…i feel in love with a guy online once…i was being stupid he wasn’t right for me. Back to the point, I have great friends online most of them have cams so i know who they are and stuff, and they are some of the best friends i have ever had. As for the trust i’m not really sure, I trust them because i know them (sorta) and they don’t do anything to me. My secrets don’t get “out” so yeah i trust them. ~jazzy

Online friends are good, and sometimes, it makes you want to meet them in real life. The friends I have online are who they are truly in real life. However, they still cannot replace the joy of actually knowing a real friend offline.

All in all, they can be real friends, but tey can never take the place of someone who you know personally.

not really…I mean they mite be a different kind…but not real ones…because I personally only like people I can see and grow close to…and…know.

I think that online relationships are different then face-to-face relationships. For one, I’ve noticed that people sound a lot different online then they do in person. Their personality is different online then in person. Compare it to a writer’s writing style to how they publicly speak, for example. However, online relationships are still relationships. In my opinion they are best when combined with actual face-to-face interaction. However, I know that sometimes that isn’t possible. IMO, I think the online medium is best to keep in touch with friends that you already have and not to meet people you don’t know already. However this is just a personal thing, and it’s mostly for saftey and because it’s really hard having friends you can’t ever just go hang with.

I feel as though maybe you could seem like the closest of friends. Have you ever met them in person? I had done that before. He was far from what I expected. It wasn’t good. But I have met people that are nice. When you talk about the same intrests. You need to be careful who you talk to. I may sound like a parent or teacher, but I am really a student, when I experienced this, I realized how careful you have to be. I was lucky I didn’t get killed. He was the age he ssaid but he wasn’t the same person that I heard from online. SO take things seriously. It can get you into trouble.