Online Friends

United States
November 24, 2015 12:23pm CST
I have been doing the online thing for over 18 years now. I actually started out in 'chat'. Then owned my own chat sites for close to 15 years. I gave them up last year, cause I wanted my 'freedom' (I guess you can say) back. In my time online, I have meet some great people and of course some not so great. I tended to ignore the latter and enjoy the former. There are a few people in which I have met online that sort of became part of the family. We would exchange B-day present, Xmas gifts, etc. I mean to the degree that it wasn't just a friendship between me and them, it was a friendship between their family and mine. A couple of them I never even met in person, a couple of them we did the whole real time meeting thing. I have always enjoyed meeting new people, and always felt blessed when a connection was formed. I find you can do that here in mylot, and it's one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. Have you ever became friends with someone online that felt like it was more than a friendship? Have you met someone that became an extended family member?
37 people like this
45 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
24 Nov 15
I met first and second hubby online (this one is 10+ years now, so we good lol), I also have many good friends met this way
6 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 15
Oh wow, you met both your hubbys online?? That is quite interesting. I met my present hubby online over 17 years ago, and married over 14 years now. I don't know your case, but in mine we got to know each other from inside out, we didn't exchange pictures for almost 2 years. So it was never based on superficial things such as looks. You sound a lot like me though.
4 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
@Jessicalynnt Yes, age does play a factor in things such as marriage. I'm glad the second one is working out.
3 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Nov 15
@TexanTornado us too, both versions actually, the first though, I was young and really immature, this time around I was late 20s.
4 people like this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
24 Nov 15
No, never.
5 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
24 Nov 15
Then you don't know what you are missing, by the way I have a very good friend that I met online who lives in Canada and we have known each other probably 8 years now. Just mentioned Canada because I see you live there also.
4 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 15
@marlina Awww that is truly a shame to hear. I think the people I met and made a close connection with online are some of the best.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (458176)
• Switzerland
25 Nov 15
No, I have never met personally people that I have met online.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
A lot of people don't meet people personally that the form a friendship online. Have your ever made a friendship online that was quite close? Where you felt they could easily enough be part of the family? Or You shared things with them that you wouldn't share with anyone else?
2 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@LadyDuck I understand that you like keeping your stuff personal.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458176)
• Switzerland
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado I have met people online who became friends. I am a very private person so I do not share personal matters, but I never did this even with members of my family.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
24 Nov 15
I met my ex online, luckily we broke up. xD
3 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 15
I met my present hubby online and we been together 16 years now, 14 years married.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
@Drosophila Oh yes, I can see where it's just the person and not the meeting place. Sorry that it happened that way.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
25 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Gratz gratz! Ya I was with my ex for 4 years. We broke up because he cheated on me. That has very little to do how we've met, more to do with what kinda person he is. Am glad we were able to go our separate ways sooner than later.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
I have exchanged letters and gifts with a 'virtual friend' but never met them in person, and that is the only one so far.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
That is terrific. Do you have plans of meeting, or just keeping things 'virtual'?
2 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@Fleura Yeah, that is one of the down sides of making such a connection online, the distance always seems to be an issue.
2 people like this
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado No plans so far as we live a long way apart, but if I happen to pass that way I will definitely look her up!
2 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
25 Nov 15
I have a great friend in Florida, one in Austria, and another in Italy. I even have a few friends in Egypt, Africa and Saudi Arabia. We send each other things and it's a nice surprise when I go to my post box and find a package from them. One thing all these people want from me which I send them out each year is a calendar of the beautiful Tahitian women that they can hang on the wall of their offices. .
4 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Oh very nice. That is the best thing, we can make close friends with so people from other countries we never would have met otherwise. Ok, is it all men you are talking about? I ask cause I would prefer a calendar of men myself.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@poehere Ah ok, Yes, I can understand that. No way was I saying there was anything wrong with that. I actually think it's great. I find having male friends, their is a lot less 'drama'.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Yes they are all men. My job and my world is basically all men. Not many women will craw under building, up in attics. and where ever else to install cables and put in equipment. So most all of my contact for my line of work are men. I do meet some women but they basically are office types who write the programming and the codes.
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 Nov 15
Yes quite a few but unfortunately 4 of those very close Friends have passed away now, they where my first online Friends I made when I first came online I still miss them .....but yes I have a few Friends close Friends and met some of them online
3 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Yes that is very true and I believe it is because you learn to trust the Person because you are in regular contact online and you find you can talk about nearly everything
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Nov 15
@gabs8513 I agree with you. Seems people are more open in talking with the screen between them, then face to face. So it makes the connection that much stronger.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Nov 15
Oh I am sorry for your losses. I find making friends, true friends from online are the best. You truly get to know the person so much more then if you would meet someone in say a store or something real time.
2 people like this
• Shenzhen, China
25 Nov 15
I had never met the online friend. But one of my friend met a online friend, and they will register marriage end of this year.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Oh so your have a friend who met their love online. That is wonderful.
• United States
27 Nov 15
@allisonwish It's a great thing, if it's 'true love'.
• Shenzhen, China
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Yeh, I‘m happy that my friend met her true love online.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Nov 15
18 years?? mercy, i'd a puter fer many years, but not net service, lol. yepperz, i've a few folks who've truly touched my heart. big hugs!
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Yes, 18 years. Well, I started out with the free disc from 'AOL' and worked my way up to dialup, and followed the progression. Awww that is wonderful. Seems it's quite easy to do online.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
25 Nov 15
I've met two online friends in person. One in London and one in Jerusalem. It's a funny feeling to see someone in the flesh for the first time yet not to feel as if you're meeting a stranger.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
It is isn't it? Almost like you have known them a good part of your life an it's simply just some kind of reunion.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
24 Nov 15
Because my work life makes it very difficult to have 'normal' friendships, most of my good friends are now people I've met after getting to know them on line.
3 people like this
• United States
24 Nov 15
Online friends can be the best friends to have. You don't have to worry about entertaining them, etc.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205769)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Jan 16
I've stayed in touch with people I met online. But I haven't become real-world long-term friends with many.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Dec 19
It might be hard to become long term real world friends with some simply because they are so far away from us.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Dec 19
True but 1000 miles is a very long distance @TheHorse
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205769)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Dec 19
@rebelann That is true. But there some I know who are within 1,000 miles of me.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306236)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Nov 15
I like to feel I have made some good friends in the blogging community. I haven't been long in myLot but I was a member of the site that just went under for a couple years and a lot of the people that were there are here as well. It felt like old home week when I saw so many familiar faces. I've also met more people I would like to think are friends or are on the way to becoming friends. I've never had the pleasure of meeting anyone in person, but I would like to.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
Oh that is truly wonderful. Yes, I think connections are made after sometime of communicating with the same people over and over. You learn things about them, you can share things more openly with them, etc. Well, you never know, you just might be able to some day.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325808)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
That hasn't happened to me yet but I haven't been online for too long. And I'm a long way from many of my online friends.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Give it time, I am sure you will make some great connections. I actually have a very good friend who lives in Australia. She will call me via Skype.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325808)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Skype is a great service isn't it? We sometimes use it talking to our son in Ireland and my sister- and brother-in-law use it to talk to their grandkids in Egypt.
3 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
@JudyEv Yes, that it is. Oh how nice, you can actually feel like you are there with them.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Nov 15
More than just friendship? I have never had this but have had/do some close friends.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Nov 15
@TexanTornado ...To me that is a lot different than a 'friend'. Yeah, that has happened but not often.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
I mean such as they felt like extended family, or became a significant other.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
@celticeagle The significant other part? Yes. Find a friend close enough that they feel like part of the family, well maybe so. But I guess I lucked out in both areas. I married a man from online who is also my best friend.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
25 Nov 15
Unfortunately, we all are so very distant physically. But yes, in person, I had met our late Professor2010 when he was leaving for his home town from the local Railway station. To be honest, it never felt that we met for the first time. It was a feeling of meeting an elder in the family. And I wished that he did live long for the newly formed bonding to grow. When I came to know about his sad demise, I felt sad and we did have some rituals done here at my place. We did start phone calls whatsapp with some others who are from India, but it is not growing. Amongst the others here at MyLot, there are definitely some great souls whom I have always considered extended family. Oh yes, I should also mention Jaiho2009 and the gang of friends from Philippines - I recall they used to organize an annual MyLot meet at their place. Oh wait. What do you want to know when you ask - Have you ever became friends with someone online that felt like it was more than a friendship?
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado Ah ok, so my thoughts were headed in almost the right directions Let me look at my list of whom I love here at MyLot... 1,2,3,4,.... Okay, there are at least about 15 mylotters (including the ones on current version) for sure whom I can say I love. I always have very high regards about them, and I can take a stand for them (in case there is a need), even if they are wrong (which I doubt). And if I had the money or we stayed nearby, I would ensure a yearly visit to them (despite my illness).
2 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@thesids As yes, that is what I am talking about. People you have met, that you care about their well being, would have their back if need be, etc. Wow, 15 of them? That is pretty great.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
It's that 'family feel', that I seem to enjoy the most of meeting some of the great people I have met and made a connection with. Sounds like you experienced some of the things in which I was saying, but in your own way. More than a friendship - A love.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
15 Dec 15
Not yet but I have made some friends online that I keep in touch with via FB or Twitter and neither of those sites are open to the general public because my out of town real world friends use FB to keep in touch. I've added a few of the friends I've made on Gather and Bubblews there and I've known some of them since 2011 and some of the other since 2013. I consider them real friends.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111178)
• El Paso, Texas
16 Dec 15
I haven't tried those two yet @TexanTornado who knows, maybe someday.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Dec 15
It's the fact that you consider them 'real friends' that makes the difference. Some people are leery about taking online to the 'real world'. I am not meaning 'meeting' but I find phone/snail mail part of the real world.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
25 Nov 15
I have and I have actually met up with quite a few of them. Some really are like part of the family. It is a new world and we make friends in new ways these days. I have been writing online since 2000 and before that chatted since late 1980s.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
@BelleStarr That is wonderful. Yes, I know what you mean. Those are the best kinds of connections. Especially when you actual family seem to be just as close with them.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
It's those that become a part of the family that are the true treasures. There is a saying, 'you can't pick your family but you can pick your friends'. You hit a gold mine when you pick a friend that becomes family
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado You are right, I am much closer to my friends than any family except my mother and daughter. They are like my sisters. As a matter of fact my daughter calls one of my online friends my other daughter. lol We really don't have a other daughter relationship but we have met for vacation and we have slept over at their house. It is a great friendship that began online.
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
25 Nov 15
Yes, I have a have a couple of friends who have become like extended family.. whom I skype with and talk too.. who wish us on all our birthdays and stuff.. I just would like to met them sometime soon.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 15
Isn't it absolutely wonderful? I find these friends to be better friends then the ones you make real time. They never ask to borrow your car, or watch their kids, or help them with their house cleaning. (Just examples -- ) But they are only a phone call away. I would love to met the 2 I have yet to meet, but I don't think it will happen.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@sofssu I know what you mean. You just never know what will happen, so the hope keeps the dream alive.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado It is wonderful indeed.. I really appreciate my realtime friends too.. Its amazing how they chip in even without asking for help. Like you I am not sure I will be able to meet my friends .. but I never give up hope.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Nov 15
I have a couple of friends who we went ahead to connect on Facebook and so we communicate now and then
2 people like this
• United States
26 Nov 15
Well, that is nice. It is small steps before you take a leap of faith.
2 people like this
• United States
27 Nov 15
@Missmwngi Yes, that is what friends are for. To always watch out and help one another.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
26 Nov 15
@TexanTornado I must agree were it not for them i guess i would not be knowing many sites. We always update each other on the upcoming sites and the good one
2 people like this