Online Buddies: Are they for real?
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
May 26, 2010 1:16am CST
After more than 15years online, having buddies from around the globe and being virtually present among social networking sites and such. I have had the most overwhelming realization and unbelievable revelations just yet.
A friend told me a few years back that she's not using her real name. She was using a pseudo name but was guilty because I remained her true friend thus she revealed to me who she really is. That was okay, I would understand that perfectly because I too don't often use my real name.
There was another friend who told me a few months back that he was single but had several kids with different women. I never thought he was that type of a guy.
Finally, a friend told me a moment ago that she was married but had boyfriends online. The worst part there is the fact that the boyfriend she had online was actually a girl! hehehe.. she was just playing the part of the man. They were together 'online' for like 3years!
So, do you think your buddies online are for real? Are you for real? Why do you think people would rather live different lives online and offline? Why are we tempted to do so?
2 people like this
7 responses
@dsplay5 (360)
• Bulgaria
26 May 10
The story about the married girl with "boyfriend" online just struck me :D. But, yeah, the people creat online different personalities, I can't understand too why do they do that. Maybe they try to hide some complexes :? I don't hide myself and actually I don't have many buddies online, maybe because I don't trust the others enough online :?
2 people like this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
26 May 10
Well, buddies don't limit to the people who are chatting online. It could even be the types of people here in Mylot.
We might be answering a discussion that isn't really true. Perhaps someone is living a life that's not really what's real to draw people into answering their discussions as well.
Perhaps it's because they'd want to hide something. Or perhaps they're there to try to be someone they couldn't be.
1 person likes this
@danoluma (817)
• Kenya
26 May 10
Actually like in the normal way (not electronically) we meet people of different walks of life. Others remain to be real friends and others tend to fade away with time. I believe online buddies are no exemption. You will find others who are real and others who are fake.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
29 May 10
I have also been involved with online social networking for many years - since the mid-90's. I used to stay up chatting with my "friends" using irc for all hours of the night. At first I was leery of everyone, then I figured out how to tell when not to trust people. I have only been "fooled" a couple of times. I have many friends from way back in the beginning that I still keep in touch with - been to their weddings, they've been to my family events... You gotta be careful though.
For me, I am me. I don't pretend, it's just not worth it. I don't use my real name - although many of my on-line friends know most of my name (I don't give out my last name very often at all).
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
31 May 10
Way back in the 90's and mid-90's people have been quite 'truthful' as compared to the many people online in this time of age. I have also gotten several good friends along those years of chatting.
It's good that you have kept your real friends with you to date. I do have some but not much.
Like you I don't give out my surname quickly. But I am real and don't pretend at all.
1 person likes this
@reckon21 (3477)
• Philippines
27 May 10
That's the wonderful things about internet and living a life in the internet. You can never tell who is telling the truth and who is faking their identity and goes on for years with nobody detecting them. The beauty about the internet world is that you can pretend to be somebody else and live with that fantasy for how long you want as long you are not busted.
But the question remains how long can you go with your facade. Is it tiring or making you attached to someone who might be doing the same thing as you. But then internet provides us the virtual world which is both terrifying and exciting as well.
Interesting topic.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
28 May 10
Even if you meet people, you can't actually be sure 100%. Remember that I have met that girl who I just knew has a husband 15years older than her and has 15 and 12 year-old children. I never knew.
People could be who they show us to be, only time could truly show us who they really are.
@karen1969 (1779)
•
26 May 10
Well, I certainly hope my online friends are genuine and honest. I am always truthful online and I just think it's another place to be "me", but I guess some people use it as escapism and maybe pretend to be someone they'd like to be or live a fantasy life of some kind. 
I wouldn't have an online relationship (boyfriend-girlfriend) though if I was single, I would expect to meet the person in real life!
I wouldn't have an online relationship (boyfriend-girlfriend) though if I was single, I would expect to meet the person in real life!1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
28 May 10
True enough, I've always thought that there's no point of trying to be someone else here online or anywhere. The lying is just too much, I can't handle remembering each lie I have to make to make my identity concrete, if you know what I mean.
As for relationships online, I don't blame them really. If they're into this thing (chatting) a lot and they're spending most of their time just talking to people or flirting with them, they're bound to fall for someone they 'think' is real, only to realize that it was all just a game to pass the time.
I am with you when you said that it's better to meet the person in real life! Or you could meet him online, but the courtship and getting-to-know must have to be in real life.
@hagirl (1295)
• United States
27 May 10
I have met alot of interesting people on mylot.... I have tried some other social sites but have not been impressed with them as much as mylot ..... I like meeting people across the globe..... Even if I did not get paid with mylot I would still continue with this site because of the mylotters.
