Online friends can be real friends
By Fae Maverick
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
Australia
December 16, 2019 10:46am CST
As a teenager I was really lonely and never really fit in at Highschool. The thing that bothered me wasn't that I had no friends but more people would literally act like I didn't exist. Even if I spoke to them they would just act like I wasn't there.
So I decided to make a few accounts online to chat to people. My longest-standing friendship online actually turned into my longest-standing relationship. But that's a story for another time.
I met many people some of whom were not nice. But there were some that I got on really well and became attached to. I kept asking myself "can I actually have an attachment to someone who at the moment is nothing more than pixels on a screen" Turns out yes I could and I did. Eventually I met him and he is now one of the people that I see the most.
Another online friend I now refer to as my 'internet' dad. Mostly because he fusses over me something chronic. Since my father left our family suddenly he has been a huge support. I actually have a plan to invite him to my graduation next year just to meet him.
Does anyone else have stories of 'online' friends theyd be willing to share?
7 people like this
7 responses
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
16 Dec 19
I only have a hand full of friends in the "real" world and don't really have friends online either. I suppose you could have friends in either. I never had a lot of friends in high school I was known by just about everyone but I really only had a few people I would actually say were friends.
Still to this day when I go back to my home town I run into people that knew me in high school and some I kind of remember but most I have no idea who they are.
2 people like this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
16 Dec 19
Most of the time I don't even get noticed by people from Highschool. That isn't always a bad thing though. I have a feeling when people are looking back through yearbooks I will be the one that they all say " I don't even know who that is" about. Doesn't help I didn't go to the filter school for my Highschool
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
16 Dec 19
@Fa_Maverick Yea, I wish people didn't remember me, I always feel a little bad for not remembering people. They mostly remember me cause I got in a lot of trouble in school and well I guess I stood out for that.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Dec 19
Online friendships are often "safe" because we can control them. It's quite different than in person face to face.
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2448)
• St. Clair, Michigan
17 Dec 19
@JohnRoberts ..“Because we can control them.”
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
18 Dec 19
@Melanie_Marie I mean he isn't wrong in a sense. We can control how much contact we have with them, we can control the conversation we have with them and whether or not we meet them. But we can also do that with people who are in our day to day lives
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
16 Dec 19
You can't control an in-person friendship?
Interacting in person is different yes. I found that a few of my friendships that transitioned from online to in-person floundered a little at first but I put that down to becoming used to the other person and interacting with them face to face.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
20 Dec 19
@Fa_Maverick
I am sorry high school was not a good experience for you. One can meet people online and they can become real friends.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
20 Dec 19
Thanks. And yes I have done couldn't live without them these days
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2448)
• St. Clair, Michigan
17 Dec 19
Oooh “internet daddy”.. I like it.
My very first online friend I ever made was right on here, met him the first night I joined back in 2006. He taught me so much, about everything. Stayed friends w/ him for years thru email & phone. You have no idea how smart this kid is.
My very first online friend I ever made was right on here, met him the first night I joined back in 2006. He taught me so much, about everything. Stayed friends w/ him for years thru email & phone. You have no idea how smart this kid is.
This is krishna183's user profile on myLot. Discussions, responses, comments, likes & more.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
18 Dec 19
People look at me strange when I say internet dad but he's supportive and actually loves being called internet dad. I asked him to my graduation given my real father isn't going to be there and he said yes :')
Congrats on your long term friendship
@isweartokira (3459)
• United States
21 Dec 19
I was the same in highschool. a year after I graduated I met a girl online, we started talking because we had similar interests, and we've been friends for almost a decade now. after a few years I finally got to meet her in person, too :)
1 person likes this
@ExplorewtMe (6332)
• Nairobi, Kenya
16 Dec 19
@Fa_Maverick That's what I think. You only come to know about one Perticular sidenofbthe person online. And knowing some one online is not easy. So making friends online doesn't go longway in most of the cases. This is what my personal thought.
What you think about it.
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
16 Dec 19
@ExplorewtMe I believe that some people can be genuine online and don't self edit to show only one side of themself. I guess the longer you talk to the person online the more their personality comes through. In fact some people are probably more likely to be themselves because online there will always be some level of anonomity.
You know in person people can only show one side of themself too right? I know people that have basically completely different personalities depending on who you talk to.
1 person likes this
@Fa_Maverick (9491)
• Australia
16 Dec 19
Yes I find it is because they are at least one removed from your daily life so it is easier to talk to them and vent.
