digibutter.nerr

[Abstract]

Okay, well, as we all know, communication today relies more on technology than real life.

I mean, who would want to walk six miles to their friend's house to ask how things are going, or send a letter, when you have instant messaging?

Want to know when a party's happening? Chances are, if you have a Facebook account, you're going to be told about it through there.

Now, as we all know, the Internet's a big place. People from all over the world can talk to each other. We're a pretty good example. A fairly tight-knit community full of teens from across the globe.

We know that people can have friends online. Well, a lot of people --- including myself say that those people aren't like "real" friends. However, depending on how much contact you have with them, you could begin to treat them like a real-life friend.

On top of that, we communicate with online friends in a lot of the ways that we communicate to irl friends. You just don't get the physical component of communication when you talk with an online friend. That's the weird thing. You can befriend a person miles away from you, that you've never met, treat them like a real-life friend, and maybe even know more about them than a person you know in real life.

Naturally, with these things happening, online intimate relationships are going to happen. This brings up the question: can love exist over the Internet?

Personally, I believe it can. It's just very complicated, and unlikely to work out.

After all, the concept of "love" isn't very complicated. When you love someone, you devote yourself to them, and, well, basically drop all defences. heh, I could go on about that forever.

And, come on. If a guy can love his truck enough to marry it, then people can love each other over the Internet.

Alright, back to seriousness.

Now, even if you CAN love someone over the Internet, it doesn't mean that you're going to have your happy ending. If you're lucky enough to live NEAR the person, you might actually get to hug or kiss. In online relationships, the two people generally don't even get to touch. Well, unless they meet. But what then?

People tend to act differently in real life. Hell, the person you were talking to might not even look the way they say they do online. The photos could be of their cousin or best friend for all you know. The person you fell in love with could be someone completely different, or not even exist at all.

That doesn't mean that there was no love, though. But, hey. In real life, people break up all of the time over things like bad breath in the morning.

Of course, there are the very few lucky couples who manage to meet in real life, and even go as far as getting married. That's a very rare incident, though.

Then again, who says that you and your current girlfriend or boyfriend are ever going to get married? Who says that your relationship is going to last even a year, and if it has, who says it's going to go further? It's not like every relationship works out.

Here's another problem. Say you get into a relationship online with someone. You're perfectly happy with the relationship; everything seems perfect. One day you go to.. hmm... let's say... a coffee shop. You order your drink and you see the PERFECT person across the room. Somehow you manage to get in a conversation with this person and they just click. You're already in a committed relationship with someone over the Internet, though. What do you do? Do you break up with your Internet lover? Do you shove off the perfect person? Or, maybe, do you continue the online relationship and hook up with this new person?

On the other hand, that kind of stuff happens in real life all of the time. People trade off partners, cheat, and lie all of the time. We just do.

If you look at an online relationship closely, many of the problems that exist in them do exist in real life. The two people care for each other deeply. Or maybe not. But that can happen in real life as well.

In short, I believe an online relationship is fundamentally the same as a real-life one.

The difference is that, well, you probably aren't going to meet up in real life any time soon... well, depending on money, and even age. So, although they are fundamentally the same, online relationships have an INCREDIBLY low chance of working out in any way. This means it's pretty much pointless to get into one, since they have almost all of the same problems as a real-life one, and a couple more.

Yeah. I'm tired. I'm gonna end this now and go to bed or something. I'll probably have to edit this tomorrow.

So, uh, yeah. Discuss.

[Super Maiq the Liar]

I believe it can happen.

I admit I act different around people on the internet, but when I get close to someone I can really be myself. It may seem sappy to say.

I promised myself I would remain in solitude, apart from the world because different from my peers. I also promised myself that I wouldn't grow attatched to people over the internet. Things change, though. Once you begin to experience the friendships that feel real, you begin to understand that it's almost the same feeling, just without the same level of personal interaction.

So yes, I believe even those friendships can evolve into something else.

I don't want to continue much longer, but I feel obligated to admit that I do have strong feelings for somebody.

I'll just stop myself there, I've probably shot myself in the foot with a few people already.

[Chaos-Stev-0]

I actually believe that one can find love over the internet. And this is comin' from someone who won't ever get that attached to someone to consider them a girlfriend. Of course, findin' true love on the Net is harder than it is in real-life, but that doesn't mean it is impossible.

Internet friends are pretty similar to real-life friends. they both communicate with each other, they both laugh with you, they both argue with you, etc. Heck, I know a few people on the Net that I can trust with my life with!

Now, it is easier to lie to other on the Net then it is in real life. Heck, you guys cannot tell if I am a teen, or if I am a 56 year-old pedo. That brings up a few problems in the Internet. But regardless, you can still make close friends on the net, and even meet up with them IRL.

[Dark Prognosticus]

I do think it can exist.

I can't REALLY say I know for sure, despite me and Nami's relationship. I more or less just CARE for her deeply. I can't say it's true love unless I meet her in real life. But she does live clsoe, so that is a possibility.

Anyways, when it comes to people online... There is always gonna be a doubt. Something nagging. Something bugging you. People DO lie online. I know that and all, so it's hard to know if someone is being completely truthful.

Nami an I have a relationship online, yes. It's rather open, and if we meet someonein our real life, we will boh understand and all. But of course if we meet each other in real life, first, that may change.

But yes, love can exist online, and yes, it is hard.

[Frozenwinters]

I believe it can exist, I'd just rather not do it myself. :U

[Manpersonguything]

I have some people I would consider acquaintances, and my sister met her first boyfriend over neopets.


Of course it would be better to be with them IRL.

[Popple]

HAPPY ENDING

I bet you can have online relationships.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE

[Typhoon™]

I believe internet relationships CAN NOT happen over the internet.

That is all

[Super Postman]

Online relationships = Pen pals with benefits

Well yes and no, I believe that an online relationship, could be the basis for ultimately a Real life Relationship, actually holding one takes trust, and patience, a little bit of discipline, Its less of a physical relationship and more of an intellectual one.

distance is often the issue with most of these online relationships, and Really I think they are the downfall of many of them. especially after you meet.

Possible, yes
Likely hood for a successful relationship, Low at best.

All in all though, Hooking up over something like a Community website like Gaia or Neopets is essentially the same as meeting someone through myspace or facebook ( though in the myspace/facebook relm its more likely you will meet someone closer)