How Deep can Internet Friendships Be?

True friends can come from many places, I have net some wonderful people on the net, but would never meet them on a one to one first meeting, I would always take someone with me! Then take things from there. Ive made lots of good friends on the net, so many of them came from my love of a certain band, I am on thier forum, then went to a show and found several of these people at the show, so then friendship came as personal, rather than on the net. In some ways it is like old times when we used to have penfriends in our younger years before the days of the internet. Some we got to meet in person, whilst others we have not had the oppertunity to do so. One lady I became trully close to was a lady in Canada that was a very poorly lady housebound with a rare blood cancer! The contact she had with me made a difference in her life, yet the two of us never did meet. At the end of the day where ever you meet people, it is a case of common sence and not rushing into things too soon. Lynn-Marie

i feel on line friendship and friendships in the outside world are essentially the same thing. I think the only real difference is that there is a greater chance of deception on line. As for looking in their eyes, I have a webcam that deals with this particular problem blessed be

I think I have met a hand full of great people so far. I would feel safe to that we have become very close. I think I wouldn't put this much time into something if it was not meaningful.

I believe it is foolish to think that reading some typing can result in a true friendship. What people say when they are safe behind their computer monitors can be much different from what they say when they are face to face with you. That is also the danger in cyber dating sites. People can somehow get crazy over a conversation with a stranger and believe everything they say. Once they meet they are often disappointed in who they have really been talking to. I would not get overly friendly with anyone who you do not meet face to face.. Just my own opinion.

haha. .yes.. it's true.. i think mylot is a wonderful community as i get to see many people found their true friends here.. as for your question.. how deep can internet friendships be.. i think internet friendship can be really deep....it doesn't make a big difference whether it's internet or non internet friendship.. don't you think so? as long as you're sincere to make friends with others.. i think somehow.. you will establish some kind of bond with them.. or maybe.. an intimate relationship.. i don't care where i get this friendship.. as long as i know.. my friends are with me when i need them =)

since i became a friend in the net @ internet friendship, i still keep in touch with my beloved friend at Pakistan...and we stiil contact each other, chatting, sent a few photos and always remeber each otehr...eventoguh, it tough for the rest to make a sincere friendship but, it depends on our objectives when we enter the cyber net...

There is this guy I met on pogo. We started chatting in the game rooms there at first. Then we exchanged yahoo IM screen names. we have been chatting online for almost 3yrs now and have exchanged phone numbers. We know as much about eachother as our local friends know. I have been invited to go spend a couple weeks with him and his girlfriend this summer. Luckily they are within driving distance and I can actually make the trip. YES I am planning on going.

With internet friendships you tend to talk to them daily, rather than 'offline' friends who sometimes you only see once or twice a week. You become close, well I certainly have come close to people virtually the other side of the world! My friends are very meaningful to me and I miss them so much when I don't come on Mylot, they have helped me through bad times and I can actually confide more in them.

I think internet relationships can be rather deep. I've met several people online that, at first I thought could turn into really nice relationships, but those really didn't go anywhere. However, I met several people online where those relationships have been long lasting. I've known several people for about 4 years now and we talk a lot, share a lot of things that we don't tell others, and we've even met in person. I think it really depends on how well you can put up with the distance, how honest you are with eachother, and if you really want to put in the effort to keep the friendship going.

There isn't really any different between internet friendship and that which is happening in real life. I feel you can take both to as far as both parties want. No difference at all.

Talking about friendship, it have two aspect to it the feelings and the feel and I think the one which have both the components will be stronger. By feeling I mean that you feel for each other and by the feel I mean that the usual senses that we human beings have to feel someone, works. So according to me net friendship can have feeling. The one to one interaction (face to face) is still beter.

I disagree with ironstruck in which he states that it's impossible to form a close bond or friendship with someone on the net--and yes, one does have to be careful of all the sickos in cyberspace that may be predators and lure innocent people...but those are fairly rare cases...I love that phrase you use..."There is an energy, a real connection that comes through cyberspace.."--I do believe that it actually CAN rise to the level of a personal face-to-face contact, and I've heard that a few MyLotters have actually have had the wonderful opportunity to meet each other...I'm just as open, honest, and straightforward with my MyLotter pals as I am with my friends that I have personal contact with--who knows, maybe even more so in some cases as somehow I can discuss issues that are on my mind at a greater depth through the world of cyberspace

I think true friends are the ones that you can hang out with in person or at least talk to on the phone. I have a couple of friends that I have met online that I consider a good friend, but not all are like that.

I have developed quite a few internet friendships and I think they could be really deep. I enjoy talking to them and I would love to meet them in real life. I like the fact that they will give you an unbiased opinion on things and you get to know "the real them" because it's easier to express yourself online.

I think internet "relationships" can often be more "deep" and true with less complications that come from real life. You tend to share the best of yourself with those online and turn the computer off when you're not "up to snuff". There's a definite difference between "real time" friendships and online ones though.

I actually have one close friend that I met him on the internet, but here in mylot haven´t made close friends yet I hope I found someone who´s willing to do it.

I have a lot of friends online. Some i know very well. Some i just know a little. when you have internet friends you get to know the true inside person. Yes, they can lie about things. But the inside person comes out and even if they lie about certain things they cant lie about who they really are. Eventually if you really listen you can find out the true person. Listen with your heart and not your head. My close friends are the ones i know very well with my heart.

I don't believe internet "friendships" can be deeper than in person, "face 2 face" relationships. U CAN connect with people over the web, and u CAN feel their energy, I believe, because EVERYTHING is energy! And, because most of us feel more comfortable disclosing things 2 strangers behind a computer keyboard, it CAN make us open up more, sometimes. But, what I've learned is that, no matter how well u THINK u're "connected" over the computer, until u actually meet IN PERSON, it's basically a FANTASY! People can embellish, and exaggerate, or just present themselves completely FALSELY al2-gether! I look at communicating on the internet just like an employer who receives tons of resumes and cover letters. They sift thru all of them, and when they read the 1's that they LIKE, then they call u in 4 that "face 2 face" interview. Writing on the internet is our "resume", whether it's a dating profile, or just responding 2 discussions here on MyLot. But, even when it sounds so good 2 u, on PAPER, it can quickly dissolve in person. I've experienced this more than once! U can only be so "deep" with a person u've never met in the flesh! I believe, 2 have a TRUE friendship, u have 2 experience life with that person, IN PERSON, and c them in a variety of situations, and really c and FEEL how u relate 2 each other when u're in each other's presence, and how much u're really THERE 4 each other, in many REAL life situations! So, while TRUE connections CAN be made here, I don't believe that they're really "friendships" at all! Until u meet them IN PERSON, they're merely "pen pals"!

I don't even have online relationships let alone in-person relationships. But while online relationships can indeed be meaningful, they lack the substantive physical you-are-there-with-me support that an in-person friendship benefits. Oh God I'm so lonely.

"Internet friendship" is alright to a degree. The only thing missing is tangible, physical connection with the person you are talking to. This can pose as a problem, but most of the times it gives you a greater control of communication. That is why I love the internets!