Whispersecret
Clandestine Sex-pressionist
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2000
- Posts
- 3,089
Someone said in another thread, “I am sorry that you can't see past the fact that this is merely a bunch of cyber-friends, this isn't real life… It is strangers for God's sake. It would make me happier if someone I know IRL would tell me they want me, as opposed to people who don't even know me.“
You know, I have told myself that very same thing. The people on this bulletin board are strangers. But the more I think about it, the more I disagree. Now hear me out.
Yes, it is true I have never and probably WILL never meet any of you. With most of you out there, I have no private, one-on-one conversation. There are a few whom I do communicate with outside of the bulletin board, but not too many. So, in that sense, we are strangers.
BUT I look back on the extended dialogue I have had with many of you faceless people. I have shared the intimate details of my life, my very innermost feelings, my outlook on various lighthearted and weighty issues of our culture, etc. In return, I have honestly tried to help a lot of people with their various challenges. The conversations here, although electronic, are no less valid or valued because we are not speaking on the phone or talking face to face.
So, I cannot say that you are strangers. In many many areas I have exchanged much deeper, private thoughts here than I ever have with my “real life’ friends. For a not-so-deep example, I would NEVER go to coffee with one of my girlfriends and discuss the attractiveness of uncircumsized penises.
Now, I am not saying that if, say, da Chef or Nurse, moved into my neighborhood, I would consider them friends on the same level as my other “real life” friends. There simply hasn’t been enough one-on-one interaction with them for that to be true. (No offense meant toward either of them. I’m sure they feel the same way.) However, they certainly would not be STRANGERS. Not at all.
I think that human beings have a need to belong to groups. Historically people belonged to clubs and organizations, churches, charity groups, scouts, etc. In our culture such groups are disappearing, or maybe mutating into electronic groups, like this one.
There is a definite sense of community here on this site, and if you doubt that fact, just look at what happens when someone like Fake Name comes along. Everyone links arms and unites in a common cause. When someone we like leaves, like Endlessly, there is a shared sadness among us.
Perhaps I AM self-delusional. Because I do see myself as a normal person. I have many friends in my “real life”. Despite what it looks like here, I really don’t walk around with my head down bemoaning my short stature and relative unattractiveness on a daily basis. But there are a lot of people with whom I interact on this bulletin board whom I do not and could not consider Strangers.
Is there anyone else who sees things this way?
You know, I have told myself that very same thing. The people on this bulletin board are strangers. But the more I think about it, the more I disagree. Now hear me out.
Yes, it is true I have never and probably WILL never meet any of you. With most of you out there, I have no private, one-on-one conversation. There are a few whom I do communicate with outside of the bulletin board, but not too many. So, in that sense, we are strangers.
BUT I look back on the extended dialogue I have had with many of you faceless people. I have shared the intimate details of my life, my very innermost feelings, my outlook on various lighthearted and weighty issues of our culture, etc. In return, I have honestly tried to help a lot of people with their various challenges. The conversations here, although electronic, are no less valid or valued because we are not speaking on the phone or talking face to face.
So, I cannot say that you are strangers. In many many areas I have exchanged much deeper, private thoughts here than I ever have with my “real life’ friends. For a not-so-deep example, I would NEVER go to coffee with one of my girlfriends and discuss the attractiveness of uncircumsized penises.
Now, I am not saying that if, say, da Chef or Nurse, moved into my neighborhood, I would consider them friends on the same level as my other “real life” friends. There simply hasn’t been enough one-on-one interaction with them for that to be true. (No offense meant toward either of them. I’m sure they feel the same way.) However, they certainly would not be STRANGERS. Not at all.
I think that human beings have a need to belong to groups. Historically people belonged to clubs and organizations, churches, charity groups, scouts, etc. In our culture such groups are disappearing, or maybe mutating into electronic groups, like this one.
There is a definite sense of community here on this site, and if you doubt that fact, just look at what happens when someone like Fake Name comes along. Everyone links arms and unites in a common cause. When someone we like leaves, like Endlessly, there is a shared sadness among us.
Perhaps I AM self-delusional. Because I do see myself as a normal person. I have many friends in my “real life”. Despite what it looks like here, I really don’t walk around with my head down bemoaning my short stature and relative unattractiveness on a daily basis. But there are a lot of people with whom I interact on this bulletin board whom I do not and could not consider Strangers.
Is there anyone else who sees things this way?
Some of you I communicate with outside of the board, so I know you better than some of the others. However, I found that I missed all of you and would have to say that I also consider everyone of the regulars as a friend at some level.
