Virtual friendship

[Guest]

 

> I believe in virtual friendship. Just as I believe in virtual love.  I have some virtual friends here, on LL.

 

> Do you believe in virtual friendship?

> How would you define virtual friendship if it exist?

> What does it mean to you?

 

 

[Alessia Wellington]

I do believe in virtual friendship, especially since I've moved countries, and all my existing friends turned into virtual friends. Virtual friendship is also what led to my real life relationship with my boyfriend. 

[Tlam99]

No idea if this exists.

In this sphere me is innocent.

Friendship is a durable thing what needs to grow.

Not the amount of friends counts but the quality.

Real friends I don't have that many, but lots of good known people.

Real friendship means alot for me, so I do not give it right away to everyone.

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, T-lam said:

Friendship is a durable thing what needs to grow.

Not the amount of friends counts but the quality.

 

 

> I agree with this a million times

[worik]

Many (almost all) real friendships were forced into virtual friendships in the last 2 years ?

It will take time to recover, if at all. It is entirely possible that some will remain virtual forever

[Crashdown117]

To me, there's only one kind of friendship and no difference between "virtual" and "real life".

The only thing that matters to me is that the friendship itself is "real" - meaning there should be some amount of mutual trust and understanding, as well as respect and a few common interests maybe. Sure, I like to meet my friends in person, but that's because I like to spend time with them and I can do that in many ways.

When it comes to friendship in the "virtual world", I like to think of it as a modern way of corresponding with a penpal. In some regards, it might actually be easier to make friends this way (or at least start a friendship), since it helps with finding things you have in common and reduces the fear of being judged for rather insecure folks like myself (LL being an extreme example for both of these points).

So yes, I believe in virtual firendship and perhaps even love (although I'm certainly no expert on the latter).

[Snicker7]

Hey, I think that humans can form connections in any situation given, including the internet, or even in online VR games. People need to feel close to someone so they won't stop trying to find connections.

I've also found amazing friends online with which I became close in real life as well, and I don't think I could've done that without the Internet's help. All in all, just like you, I also value virtual friendships just as much as (for the lack of a better word) physical ones. ?

[Berlon]

I don't think it is good for me, but I do always addict to virtual friendship and virtual love.?

[Guest]

Moved to off topic.

[thaclone]

well

I have friends IRL and I have friends, that I have never seen before and only talked (phone/discord/TS) or chatted with.

tbh, those "virtual" friendships are not as close as the IRL ones, but I would still call them good friendships.

 

I don't really know, if there is a big difference for me, if it is "virtual" or "real" - as long as I am comfy with it, it's totally fine with me

[KoolHndLuke]

what the hell is a "virtual" friend or love anyway? That makes either of those sound about as meaningful as what flavor dog biscuits you buy, lol. I meet people online and some I make friends with, once shared a love. And those relationships are every bit as real to me as any other I've had since what we say to each other can mean a helluva lot to one another. Also there are many ways to show how much you care online- like buying gifts or sharing something personal you did/made. 

 

I'll go on to say that there are some members here that I considered friends that are seemingly no longer with us and I miss them.

[NickNozownik]

Of course it exists, I've met a few people online and became friends with them. Some are just cool dudes and I like playing games with them, others told me stuff that even their closest people in real life don't know. In fact it developed faster than real life relations, probably because people are less afraid/hesitant to be honest online. I mean even if I would turn out to be a complete and utter asshole they can simply block me.

 

On 8/18/2021 at 3:20 PM, EvalovesEP said:

How would you define virtual friendship if it exist?

Same as irl except the other person lives in a different country/continent and I obviously can't have sex with them when it turns out to be more than friendship.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, NickNozownik said:

Of course it exists, I've met a few people online and became friends with them. Some are just cool dudes and I like playing games with them, others told me stuff that even their closest people in real life don't know. In fact it developed faster than real life relations, probably because people are less afraid/hesitant to be honest online. I mean even if I would turn out to be a complete and utter asshole they can simply block me.

 

Same as irl except the other person lives in a different country/continent and I obviously can't have sex with them when it turns out to be more than friendship.

> Indeed, in real life getting to know somebody last longer for we all wanted to be seen in our best profile and it is hard to pretend for long time because there are many way to be exposed. Virtual reality helps us to hide the real us for we have many escape doors. 

[Swiftstep]

Pro: if someone gives you comfort, it is a friendly gesture

Con: the usage on plattforms like FB waters down the meaning of friendship

Pro: if you don't have a choice, it's better to be happy with what you get

Con: Man wasn't created to be an online friend, nor live in solitude

 

Bottom line: you can't turn a lawnmoawer into a Porsche, and you can't be called human with virtual friends only. We need to feel, see and / or smell each other. We need to connect. I doubt technology can replace or dampen that primal instinct. But it can take your mind of things.

:)

[KoolHndLuke]

48 minutes ago, Swiftstep said:

you can't be called human with virtual friends only

Not sure if my girlfriend would agree with you a little.... or feed you your own entrails.  Talking and sharing online is a mediocre substitute I agree, but often that's all you got when you're always sick/hurting. But the minute you try to feel sorry for her and treat her as anything less than human, she would unceremoniously dump yo ass. You make those distinctions- those 'assumptions'- in your mind with ppl at your own peril since you never know when it may be your only way to communicate with/get to know anyone. Think about the lock-down for instance; How many ppl were forced into online only relationships because of that? Some of them still have to live that way since the 'threat' is still present.

 

 

[Gukahn]

Virtual friendshiep.. I have a few along side friends i can meet up with anytime but don't right now like many of us in the last 2 years. (when this shit doesn't stop soon i'm gonna turn into a monk and become a virgin again i swear to god xD)

 

So yeah i believe in them. Sometimes you share a little more or other things with people you talk to mostly via internet and handy and i am part of the generation who started the whole virtual anything-Ships over 12 years ago. Would be strange for me to deny it's authenticity ?

 

[Swiftstep]

4 hours ago, KoolHndLuke said:

substitute

 

Yes, in the way that methadone is a substitute for heroin: you still got numbed up, but you don't get high.

Sorry that your lady had a rough time - I fear modern times has made us all less human. But that's not the issue here.

Might be splitting hairs, but I'd rather call it virtual social interaction or digital companionship. Or maybe it's everyones own business, and the whole discussion is worthless.

[Crashdown117]

3 hours ago, Swiftstep said:

Or maybe it's everyones own business, and the whole discussion is worthless.

While I don't think the discussion here is worthless in any way, I fully agree with the first part of that statement.

The question "What is friendship?" is entirely subjective and there can never be an answer that all people will accept as "the truth" IMO. My own idea of friendship has changed and evolved ever since I finished school, because my friends from back then have moved to different places. I still think of them as my friends, even though we can only stay in touch via social media (a situation that got even worse due to that rotten pandemic), and I can think of at least two people who make me feel the same way, despite only knowing them through some form of correspondence on the internet.

I guess it really depends on one's own definition of friendship in general and maybe - in some way - it's the same as in real life, where some people also distinguish between "an acquaintance" and "a friend" (at least they do so in Germany). All I know is that once I consider someone a friend, they need to put in some real effort to make me change my mind.

[steelpanther24]

Building off of the previous post by Crashdoom, we tend to operate in different circles at different times with different definitions, not to mention regional differences.   So our definition of friendship would vary as well.   However, also building off of another comment, participation in LL is voluntary and could be seen as selfish.  Some would even go as far as Tink's philosophy:

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[GaymerX]

On 9/25/2021 at 11:38 PM, Crashdown117 said:

While I don't think the discussion here is worthless in any way, I fully agree with the first part of that statement.

The question "What is friendship?" is entirely subjective and there can never be an answer that all people will accept as "the truth" IMO. My own idea of friendship has changed and evolved ever since I finished school, because my friends from back then have moved to different places. I still think of them as my friends, even though we can only stay in touch via social media (a situation that got even worse due to that rotten pandemic), and I can think of at least two people who make me feel the same way, despite only knowing them through some form of correspondence on the internet.

I guess it really depends on one's own definition of friendship in general and maybe - in some way - it's the same as in real life, where some people also distinguish between "an acquaintance" and "a friend" (at least they do so in Germany). All I know is that once I consider someone a friend, they need to put in some real effort to make me change my mind.

 

Everything is absolutely correct. Friendship and love are absolutely individual feelings and mean something different for every single person. I differentiate between buddies and friends. A buddy is someone I like to spend my free time with but have no deeper feelings. A friend is someone I feel like a relative. I couldn't have seen a friend for years but still think of him sometimes. A friend is someone who is there for me when I need him, even if he is thousands of miles away and we can only make phone calls.

[Lyman the Lunatic]

Friendship is friendship.