Are internet friends real friends?

[diggler649]

So my coworkers and I are having a debate on whether or not internet friends are "real friends". Internet friends would be defined as the people that you have bonded with and regularly interact with through forums, online gaming, blogs, etc... You may or may not know what they look like, what their real names are or have ever met them in person.

So the question is, can someone be defined as a friend if you have never seen them or interacted with them in real face-to-face life? Do you think internet friends are real friends?

Discuss.

[flashy_mcflash]

I don't consider anyone I haven't met a 'real friend', but rather a second-tier kind of friend. I try to make an effort to move people from the second tier into the 'real friend' category when possible though.

[googoo]

If you met them online and have never "hung out" then NO they aren't!

[kieum90]

In essence yes, you do the same things basically but I would have to go with no because real friends are the ones you see in real life. I don't see a good reason to go to a computer and interact with it. You can't expect your internet friend to save you from a dire situation. It's not like your house is on fire and you go to your computer and say, "help, help my house is on fire, what should I do?" Your so called internet friend doesn't reply because he probably lives in another country etc...

Although you still interact with your true friends on the internet, you know you can always meet with them offline.

[iEyeCaptain]

You guys are my only friends.. :cry:

[DarkMasterMX]

I would say yes and no. My "real friends" are friends I can trust with things and would expect to get me out of binds if I was ever in one.

I have very good relationships with people I've played with online and often in our groups/guilds/forums etc... we always have a FB thread or a real pictures thread so you at least get to put a face to a name. When I travel around I often end up meeting with guys I've played with over the years for a beer or just to shoot the ****. There are some incredibly awkward people but then there are some really great people to hangout with chat and just joke around. That being said I got not issues calling people I've played with online friends.

[hazelsmrf]

It depends on the friend. I have some that I consider real friends even though we've never met, they are people that I would invite into my home or would help if they needed me and I know they'd do the same for me. Some of those I met in person, one I ended up marrying (married 13 years now), one is my best friend and my 5 year old's godmother, several more that I've met are sprinkled around in different cities and are people that I've met at one point or other in real life and keep in touch with through Facebook or other. They are not what I'd call super close friends but they ARE friends.

[longitude]

Yes, my friend.

[tsat]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/original/000/044/007/Ralph_No.png?1269293633

[longitude]

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/1103/internet-friends-friends-demotivational-posters-1301521071.jpg

[Hairball]

You guys are my only friends.. :cry:

Same... :cry::cry:

[peanutz]

I would say yes and no. My "real friends" are friends I can trust with things and would expect to get me out of binds if I was ever in one.

I have very good relationships with people I've played with online and often in our groups/guilds/forums etc... we always have a FB thread or a real pictures thread so you at least get to put a face to a name. When I travel around I often end up meeting with guys I've played with over the years for a beer or just to shoot the ****. There are some incredibly awkward people but then there are some really great people to hangout with chat and just joke around. That being said I got not issues calling people I've played with online friends.


It depends on the friend. I have some that I consider real friends even though we've never met, they are people that I would invite into my home or would help if they needed me and I know they'd do the same for me. Some of those I met in person, one I ended up marrying (married 13 years now), one is my best friend and my 5 year old's godmother, several more that I've met are sprinkled around in different cities and are people that I've met at one point or other in real life and keep in touch with through Facebook or other. They are not what I'd call super close friends but they ARE friends.Yes, same for me.

[thrifthunter]

No not a real friend.

[umop]

I've told my online "friends" things I would never tell people IRL, so we definitely had a unique bond. Whether it's actual friendship is debatable.

[danfromwaterloo]

So my coworkers and I are having a debate on whether or not internet friends are "real friends". Internet friends would be defined as the people that you have bonded with and regularly interact with through forums, online gaming, blogs, etc... You may or may not know what they look like, what their real names are or have ever met them in person.

So the question is, can someone be defined as a friend if you have never seen them or interacted with them in real face-to-face life? Do you think internet friends are real friends?

Discuss.

Physicality and friendship are mutually exclusive.

I have BF3 friends that I've never met whatsoever. We game a lot together, but we've never met. I know all about their lives and they know about mine. And if we were ever in the same room, we'd instantly be friends.

[FrogPrince]

Physicality and friendship are mutually exclusive.

I have BF3 friends that I've never met whatsoever. We game a lot together, but we've never met. I know all about their lives and they know about mine. And if we were ever in the same room, we'd instantly be friends.

Have you ever seen pictures or video (ei Skype) of them. If not, I doubt you'd be "instant friends". You'd most likely be pretty uncomfortable at meeting a stranger who knows so much about you.

Personaly, I'd never let online relationships grow to the point where Id consider them friends, thats just creepy.

[ever1221]

define friend.

[DarkMasterMX]

Have you ever seen pictures or video (ei Skype) of them. If not, I doubt you'd be "instant friends". You'd most likely be pretty uncomfortable at meeting a stranger who knows so much about you.

Personaly, I'd never let online relationships grow to the point where Id consider them friends, thats just creepy.

I don't see why.

Really the only missing standards in having online friendships and relationships is a lack of a physical image or presence. The people I socialize with online follow the same standards I usually set for my friends or personalities that I get along with. You can't compare people you meet and talk to on a regular basis online with random people on internet forums that you've never held a conversation with but they just troll everything and make people look like ***** hats. I've met a ton of people I started talking to online whether through general traveling or from events like Blizzcon and out of maybe 60 people that I had regular conversations with there were only maybe 5 people who it was a bit awkward. Almost everyone else was a normal person and great to chat with have a drink etc....

In some ways building friendships online is great for all people since it takes away some of that stress of appearances and such. I've met some people and enjoy talking with them but likely if I were to have seen them first in real life I wouldn't have thought to talk to them at all because of their appearance etc... Meeting them and talking with them online simply allows you to build a friendship and relationship by getting to know the person and having mutual things in common to discuss.

[kaydees]

That's obviously for an individual person to decide on their own.. some people will consider them friends, some will not.

[zonetbh]

Not until you become RL friends, that's how I see it. Ive had a lot of "internet friends" over the past decade but the only ones I still keep in contact with on a regular basis turned into real life buddies who I still hang out with in person a couple times a year at least.

[FrogPrince]

It's not like your house is on fire and you go to your computer and say, "help, help my house is on fire, what should I do?

Actually, there is a lot of threads on RDF like this.

[LaserEnvy]

I would say no. In order for someone to be your true friend, they would have to be here for you when you need them. Sending msgs don't count. Also, you would have to know who that person truly is. However, internet people are not the same in person

[zonetbh]

I would say no. In order for someone to be your true friend, they would have to be here for you when you need them. Sending msgs don't count. Also, you would have to know who that person truly is. However, internet people are not the same in person

My two buddies who I hang out with regularly and met on the internet playing video games are exactly the same in person as they were on the internet. But I guess when you're a kid playing 6 hours of video games a night with your buddies on voice chat its hard to hide who you really are for more then a few days...

[thecheeseman]

Who you are on the Internet, is not who you are in real life.

[Abbrev] Fight Club

[deep]

iHave all my internet friends' eBacks.

[ji2o0k]

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you 'round for a long long time
I really 'membered you when you drink my wine

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you walkin' down in Chinatown
I called you but you could not look around

[skwigglyline]

There are a few people I would consider friends offline but don't talk to them as much as people I know online. I would define a friend as someone you feel comfortable discussing personal issues with as you wouldn't do that with a stranger. A second criteria would be someone who shares common interests.

Then again, it isn't even a big deal if you consider someone a friend or not...its up to you and how you see your connection with that individual even if they are a 60 year old pedophile on a internet chatroom.

[xvizardx]

OP and his coworkers need to get laid.

[diggler649]

OP and his coworkers need to get laid.

Wow, that was very helpful. I'm sure your conversations with your coworkers (if you even have a job) are even more enlightening.

xvizardx: Yo, brahs. Check this out. I, like, saw this hot chick in the elevator, and i said Yo.
coworkers: That's sick. Did you tap that?
xvizardx: Nah, brah. She too fat. Too fat.
coworkers: Yeah, man. Totally too fat. I only like skinny asian chicks brah.
xvizardx: Hey, i got some weed. Do you want to smoke it during break?
coworkers: Yeah, cool. Rock on!
Supervisor: Hey DB's. Get back to work. The toilets aren't going to clean themselves.

[daikman]

Who you are on the Internet, is not who you are in real life.

[Abbrev] Fight Club

Thank you. Best movie ever -well played

[EbonyRose]

You guys are my only friends.. :cry:

What about all those LGs on your FB? ;)


Same... :cry::cry:

With HB, I can believe it. :razz: It's ok, we love you anyway.


Yes, same for me.

;)

To the OP: it depends on the relationship you form with the person/people. If you know every detail about them and hang out in real life from time to time and speak to them often, how are they different from any other friend you have? I've met some people online that I only know casually, while there are others that I have made strong friendships with. It just depends on what you want to make out of it. Online is just the meeting point. After you meet, you can take the friendship wherever you want it to go. It's the same as internet dating, some people meet online and start dating. It doesn't mean their relationship is any less real than the ones they've had before.

[slowtyper]

I think its possible but I think its more likely that online friends will eventually meet up with each other at gatherings or something and eventually just turn into normal friends. Having similar interests is a big thing. Also depends on how you meet online. There are some online communities that are extremely close and have a lot of trust with each other and some not so much. Some groups are older, some are younger, etc etc.

[SoBored]

no. not at all.

you don't know anything about somebody who you only communicate with on the internet - just what they choose to present to you.

[diggler649]

no. not at all.

you don't know anything about somebody who you only communicate with on the internet - just what they choose to present to you.

That's true. For all you know, I could be a 62 year Somalian pirate trolling RFD forums looking for gay sex and an AK-47 group buy.

[EbonyRose]

That's true. For all you know, I could be a 62 year Somalian pirate trolling RFD forums looking for gay sex and an AK-47 group buy.

You're telling me you're NOT? You lied my friend, you lied!

[diggler649]

You're telling me you're NOT? You lied my friend, you lied!

You got me. I'm really 64, not 62. Jeebz was the only one that knew and I swore him to secrecy.

[Lostwords]

It's all depend on the individuals that you've met online. Some of the people I've meet online are more like acquaintaint and a few I would consider real friend. Do you consider your co-worker as your friends since you do meet them daily in real life? To me, real friend is someone there for you in your time of needs. There were times that I needed support and my real life friends are unable to be there for me but my online friend are and vice versa.

[iEyeCaptain]

That's true. For all you know, I could be a 62 year Somalian pirate trolling RFD forums looking for gay sex and an AK-47 group buy.

I like in on the group buy.

For the AK-47s.

Not the gay sex.

[ji2o0k]

I like in on the group buy.

For the AK-47s.

Not the gay sex.yeah right...don't lie man, don't lie.....wear your colours proud good man...strut your stuff like a peacock! :razz:

[sylpherware]

Only people I've seen naked are my real friends

[joeyjoejoe]

That's true. For all you know, I could be a 62 year Somalian pirate trolling RFD forums looking for gay sex and an AK-47 group buy.

Yup. Time to unfriend you on PSN.

[diggler649]

Yup. Time to unfriend you on PSN.

Even after I took all those bullets for you on MW3 last night? LOL.

[ji2o0k]

Even after I took all those bullets for you on MW3 last night? LOL.was it to your face? And these were his bullets? :razz:

[sandikosh]

So my coworkers and I are having a debate on whether or not internet friends are "real friends". Internet friends would be defined as the people that you have bonded with and regularly interact with through forums, online gaming, blogs, etc... You may or may not know what they look like, what their real names are or have ever met them in person.

So the question is, can someone be defined as a friend if you have never seen them or interacted with them in real face-to-face life? Do you think internet friends are real friends?

Discuss.

No. When I was growing up, my parents used to call them imaginary friends.

[Rainne]

Internet friends are online friends.

[Jimboski]

Internet friends are online friends.

Yup two categories of friends!

Internet Friends and Real Life Friends.. Big difference!

[willdacanucker]

I have NO friends.(my fault really for moving around so damn much earlier in life) I did get to caught up with so called "online friends" to the point I was viewing them as real friends. I finally snapped back to reality and realized they are all 1's and 0's for the most part and most certainly NOT real friends. So I got rid o my facebook and G+ accounts. As a matter of fact, I think this online friends phenomenon has actually hindered a lot of people from even meeting real life friends.

[projectmoonlightcafe]

I'd say online friends are more like penpals (if anyone still remembers what they are).

[AudiDude]

So if a girl says she want to be internet friends after you ask her out, then you really have no chance with her.