do you think you have real friends here?

[glamorilla]

is the question on my mind at the moment.

often i see people make the argument that this is an anonymous porn board. that we don't really know each other as we hide behind the anonymity of our computer screens.

some feel this is empowering as it allows us to say things we never would in real life to people we'll never know.

some feel it allows us to adopt personas that is far from the person and the character we possess in our real nehind the screen lives.

the question of how well do we really know each other often enters conversation~usually in the form of a barb.

our collective credibility is often called into question.

i consider the majority of posters here to be friends. degrees are degrees. some friendly acquantances. some people just passing by to be met again down the road. in the year i've been here i've gotten to know some of you very well~in pm's,phone conversations...actually going as far as meeting and this place has touch my real life in so many good ways i'd be ashamed to admit how much i owe to those who see fit to look out for me when i need it~mentally,spiritually and physically.

there are people here i barely have any contact with~yet i hold them and thier opinions and words in great esteem.

people here meet,people here date,people here fall in love...even get married. we share,we laugh,we feel for each others losses. i carry the friends i make here with me as i move through the day and often times i see the world with thier eyes.

i think its a gift i'm lucky to have.

my question here is do you think you have real friends here~and in reflecting on your answer ask yourself why and why not.

and to my friends here...i love you all.

 

[Johnny Cool]

No. There are people here I like, people who like me but there's nobody who is a friend.

 

[k¡tty]

You are such a sweetheart Glam, and anyone who is lucky enough to have you as a friend is blessed.



I do know that I have some real friends here, people who care about me and what's going on as I do them.


I also know that I thought I had friends here and I suppose I was wrong.. I guess I misjudged the relationship, or maybe I just figured they thought of me in the same light, as their friend.

There's someone who I considered a very good friend, someone who supported me through my troubles and who seemed to care. But who no longer speaks with me.. I dunno why either which is the kicker. I don't know what I might have said or done to have caused their sudden coolness towards me and I'd be lying if I said that it didn't hurt.

Ahh well.. those that really know me, that have taken the time to get to know me beyond what they see on the board, who I've met, spoken with on the phone, exchanged real mail with, traded pm's with.. I love and appreciate everyone of them.

 

[ozraven]

is the question on my mind at the moment.

often i see people make the argument that this is an anonymous porn board. that we don't really know each other as we hide behind the anonymity of our computer screens.

some feel this is empowering as it allows us to say things we never would in real life to people we'll never know.

some feel it allows us to adopt personas that is far from the person and the character we possess in our real nehind the screen lives.

the question of how well do we really know each other often enters conversation~usually in the form of a barb.

our collective credibility is often called into question.

i consider the majority of posters here to be friends. degrees are degrees. some friendly acquantances. some people just passing by to be met again down the road. in the year i've been here i've gotten to know some of you very well~in pm's,phone conversations...actually going as far as meeting and this place has touch my real life in so many good ways i'd be ashamed to admit how much i owe to those who see fit to look out for me when i need it~mentally,spiritually and physically.

there are people here i barely have any contact with~yet i hold them and thier opinions and words in great esteem.

people here meet,people here date,people here fall in love...even get married. we share,we laugh,we feel for each others losses. i carry the friends i make here with me as i move through the day and often times i see the world with thier eyes.

i think its a gift i'm lucky to have.

my question here is do you think you have real friends here~and in reflecting on your answer ask yourself why and why not.

and to my friends here...i love you all.

Great sentiments, and we both agree with all you have to say, the friendships here are as real, just a different sort of real....

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Two many words to write with such little time...

Those here know who are my friends...

 

[cheesysusie]

I do believe that it's possible to have real friends here. It would have to be, if it's possible to be truly offended or hurt by someone here. The two cannot be mutually exclusive. That said, I do feel I have made some true friends at Lit, both here and at chat.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Ahh well.. those that really know me, that have taken the time to get to know me beyond what they see on the board, who I've met, spoken with on the phone, exchanged real mail with, traded pm's with.. I love and appreciate everyone of them.

So true.... everyone knows your name, but few know the real you....

 

[Summery]

I do have real friends here. A good group of amazingly wonderful, kind, caring, and outrageously witty friends! Ones that have proven their friendship over time and just general consistency and respect. Several of which I talk to daily on the phone, or send random cards to et.....all of which carry over into my life away from the board in some form or another. They are real people, and not just words typed out on my computer screen. I couldn't imagine my life without the whole lot of them. I am blessed for having these people in my life. Lit was just the catalyst for me meeting them.

Glam you are one of those friends.

 

[Sillyman]

Real friends? Real honest to God friends? Here? No.

 

[weed]

There are many acquaintances here that I feel I know a little but I can't really say I know beyond the banter that's on the Board.

There are also a very few that I have been able to know closer through private communication. Those I do consider real friends. I have found it is easier to share my thoughts with these people than the friends I have offline. This may not speak well of my ability to make friends but it's reality and makes the friends I have here all the more valuable.

The relationships here are very real. They can experience the love and understanding as well as the trials and tribulations any relationship can. You can injure or fluff your friends here perhaps even easier than elsewhere.

 

[weed]

Note my sig.

 

[Gord]

I have never really crossed the line and actuallly got to know anyone here beyond the usual banter and chatting

I am aware of who certain individuals are as per say where they live , age and location etc - but that is it. I have probably sent and received about a dozen pm's in the since I started posting.

Maybe it is a geographic / culture thing, or maybe it is just me.

I suppose I tend to treat these boards as a seperate issue to what happens in my life - they are completely seperate worlds, and I am busy enough with friends / family / partner / kids etc

I would not be adverse to getting " to know " people better as it is always interesting to meet new people. But i suppose you need to invest time and effort , as in real life ,

As such I havent yet - maybe I will in the future - we will see

 

[tulip2lipservice]

I have real 3-d friends here.

I am fortunate to have met many from chat and from the boards. Some friendships are deep. Some are on the surface. Some I have met and some I know I will meet in the future.

Then there are some that are just people that pass through here and from their behavior and writings I have no regard in holding high esteem to and no desire to know them beyond this forum.

Lit has a lot to offer as in friendship if you open yourself up to it.

Peace,
Tulip

 

[Marxist]

Of course I have friends here.

Right?

Hello?

 

[Gusty Wind]

,

 

[eagleyez]

Reaching out to people, and having them reach out to you, wether it be thru comedic banter, sex lingo, political musings or just plain straight talk...can only be a good thing as long as all is kept in perspective...and golden rule is applied.

*hand reaches out to shake and say "Good mornig friends, i really hope you have a nice day, that things go well for you ya and that you brighten someones day out there in the mean old world"*

Can never have too many friends...

 

[red_rose]

I know I have real friends here. Some of them I've met in person, some I will meet sometime in the future.

Some of my "on-line friends" have been there for me even at times when my "real life friends" couldn't (and/or wouldn't).

 

[Gusty Wind]

,

 

[Guest]

Of course I have friends here.

Right?

Hello?

LOL.


Yes, I do.
I hope CDL doesn't see this thread

 

[eagleyez]

now come over here and give me a big old hug.....


ah thats better

 

[Soblue]

I don't know.

 

[Gusty Wind]

.

 

[juicylips]

But i suppose you need to invest time and effort , as in real life

Yes, you do. I think in most cases you have to invest more since there can be so many hinderances to finding time to communicate. Real life takes precedence and oft times our online friendships take a back seat and there simply isn't the time to nurture one. If you want it to work, then you have to work at it.




To answer your question, glam...yes...I have real friends here. But I think you knew that.

 

[kotori]

Yes. I've made some real friends here. But this is just a place to start. I wouldn't say that it's impossible to make friends just being on-line, but it's the people I've spoken with and written to and then met who have become friends. Fuck, there are a few people here I'd give a kidney to, if they needed it. Yeah, real friends.

 

[Ladybird]

Glam that was a lovely piece of writing, and it shows why you are so well considered by so many, myself included.

I have quite a few really good friends here in Lit. I've met around 20 people and consider them all my friends. In addition to that there would be at least that many again that I haven't met because of distance, that I love as true friends.

This community has given me the chance to make some very good friendships.

Take a peek into the Aussie thread in the Playground some time, there you'll find a group of friends, people who may or may not have met in r/l, but friends all the same. It's a great example of what can happen if we want it too.