Really Friends?

@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
November 3, 2009 11:01am CST
It goes without saying that most of us are members of other social networking sites than myLot. We are encouraged to add friends on each of these sites, so how do you go about that? What I consider a friend might not be what everyone else considers a friend. Does it not mean more than just the occasional comment left on a friend's page? Do you have contact with your friends other than while visiting a given site? I find it impossible to maintain a friendship with someone if you never talk to them and exchange information about what is going on in your life. What about you? How do you treat your "friends?"
2 people like this
7 responses
• United States
3 Nov 09
There are friends and then there are true friends and then there are Close friends. Just regular friends are the ones you only hear from every once in awhile.they are very causal.True friends you feel connected to . You know better than just the regular kind.And then there are close friends,the ones who Really know you . They know and keep your secrets and you keep theirs.I have been lucky ,I have found all three types here.I didn't seek this out ,it just happened.I cherish each and every friend. It is good to hear from the "regulars" I love that I can support the true ones and I would be lost , lost and depressed without my best friend.And what is great, he Knows it and he cherishs my friendship too!
1 person likes this
• Mexico
3 Nov 09
Hi sarah ruth beth: i'm glad after reading this answer you have post. Lucky you that can tell us that you have known some friends here on mylot including close friends. I think that friends are a blessing, we can have everything but if we don't know friendship it will be hard that we could feel completely happy. Hope those friends still with you for years to come. Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Nov 09
Thanks. I'm working at it.A good friend is hard to find and harder to keep.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
You have some very clear thoughts on what true friendship really means, sarah, and it is easy to see why your friendship is valued.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
7 Nov 09
This is one of the reasons why I don't like those sites. A person I used to work with saw my daughter and asked if I was a relative of hers. My girl checked with me then replied to this person that I was her Mum. We've caught up via a couple of messages and another workmate has also joined my short list. It takes her over a month to respond to my messages enquiring after her family etc. I really don't see the point of trying to get in touch with everyone you ever knew. I'm really only interested in myLot. Those other sites are a time waste to me. You can use the phone, send an email or talk face to face. These places are glorified chat rooms to my mind. Sure they are very popular and flavour of the month/year but what can you do there that you cannot do elsewhere? I spend time at another site that holds a lot of activity and interest for me and I have a small group of friends there. We have know each other for years Because of limitations on our discussion board we opened an account at Yahoo where we could talk freely. It's hardly ever used but about 80% of our members have now left to join FB. My friends have left and if I choose to stay behind...too bad.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
9 Nov 09
It is basically a children's site Worldwise. I would be happy to introduce you to it and to the Guild I belong to except that all my good friends are in short supply as they are spending their time at FB. I will send you a link, if I can figure out how to...that way you will know how to find me. Expect a PM.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
I have tried to find a good alternative to FB. Ms Tickle, but I think I was attracting all of the wrong sorts of people!You would think that once they see my age they would know that that wasn't what I was there for. Anyway, it left me leery of such sites. If you will send me an invite to your site I would be glad to check it out.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
4 Nov 09
I talk on the Phone with some of my Friends I have now got to the Stage I will only requests Friends if I know them already, but I am not on many Social Sites anyway and will not join any others either I have enough to do lol and I enjoy the ones I am with
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
I think there is an art to being able to navigate the social sites well, gabs, and I guess I just have not reached that point of comfort yet. However, I continue to try!
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
4 Nov 09
I only have one other site where I have "friends" and it is what I know about them that took me back to the site, I had left it. I want to know when things are doing better for them, I want to help them and celebrate with them and be connected to them. Some of my online friends are more substantial than some of my real world friends.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
I think that's just great, GG. I know there are some people that I would like to become better friends with, but it's not easy when you are a shy person.
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
4 Nov 09
And that is one topic I would love to address. I feel that any one person can have friends- people who have shown themselves as such, an ally, a comrade,your bosom buddy, side kick, advocate and those you know care and are there for you. Then there are those people I would call an acquaintance and they are the ones that act friendly, aren't really there for you and are shallow and non-complacient. And online it takes alot of consistancy to show themselves as real friends.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
You're absolutely right, celticeagle! It is so easy for people to hide their true nature when you are dealing with them online. That is the reason I think myLot is the best site of it's kind, because through our interactions we get a better chance to really get to know one another.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Nov 09
Agreed.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
4 Nov 09
Hey worldwise! To me a "friend" is much more than an occasional response to a discussion! I believe in getting to know my friends alot better than that! I want to participate in their discussions so I can get to know their personality and get to know other things about them better! When I add someone to my "friends list" it means alot more to me than just an occasional response to a discussion! I can't speak for anyone else, but that is how I feel and I have made some very close friends here at mylot that way that I now speak to off of the Lot too!
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
Good for you, Opal!I agree with you that we have to try and get to know each other better in order to cultivate our friendships.
• Mexico
3 Nov 09
Hi worldwise: thanks for opening this discussion. I have felt the smae your expressing here when i add some friends. If you ask what are friends i think i haven't found friends yet in mylot but at least i can consider that the people i add on my friend list are very nice and i agree with what they say and i love the discussions their open. That's not friendship but i put this name on them because we share at least some ideas in commun. Have a nice day and keep mylotting.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
9 Nov 09
With such an outgoing personality, starsailover, it won't take very long for you to make many friends here on myLot!