Are Online Relationships Real?
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| Thu, 12-29-2005 - 5:12pm |
I was wondering if online realationship are real or not. A few friends of mine think that they are not real relationships especially if they are over long distances (ie separated by a few states or more) and no chance of meeting up and because of that they can't be real relationships. They cite things such as the in person contact (physical) isn't there, they could be telling you anything online/the phone and it could be all lies, and various other things that they feel are important parts of a healthy relationship. I myself am not sure. And no one out their start to worry about me or critize me cause I'm not in an online relationship. I ask this just as a curiousity and I have a friend who was involved in one a few years ago. I don't want to offend anyone by my question but I would seriously like to get some options on this matter.
Take care everyone have hope the holidays are treating you well!

Well, an online relationship is "real", in the sense that it exists. But it is necessarily a *limited* relationship, because it's impossible to have all the elements that make up a healthy romantic relationship without spending time together in person.
Sheri
If there is no chance of meeting then it's purely and simply an online relationship, or if you prefer, a real online relationship. If there is a chance of meeting then I think it becomes one aspect of a real relationship.
IMHO: Purely online relationships are an interactive fantasy.
>>IMHO: Purely online relationships are an interactive fantasy.<<
I totally agree with that. Maybe I'm old fashioned but, until I meet someone in person, I don't feel any real connection with them. Maintaining conversations by IM or e-mail can be entertaining and fun, but I never have a true feel or attraction for a person until we've met (and often, it takes several meetings for that to develop).
I get incredibly frustrated with the guys (in my own city who COULD meet in person) who just want to IM incessently. I get bored and move on if they don't want to meet face-to-face.
AJ, enjoying life with C.