Internet Relationships - Can they carry over into real life?

I have never met anyone in reality that I first encountered online, but a friend of mine did a while back. Trevor bought a computer and very quickly because addicted to chat sites etcetera. After several months of chatting to a girl in Washington, he decided to pack up his job and move from England to the United States. I warned him that it was a very dubious and risky thing to do because he had no way of knowing who this person really was. She could even be a man for all he knew because it was easy to set up an email and send a false picture over the internet. Ignoring my advice he packed up and flew to the United States and to my surprise I discovered later that he was getting married. Naturally it is purely a matter of chance whether the person meets your expectations or not.

I've met several people that I first new online. My husband, as well as many of our friends, and other people before that. When I was younger the people that I met online and then later met offline were people who lived in the same area I did, and so it wasn't much different than meeting people in any other way. But I wound up moving almost 1000 miles to be with my husband after meeting him online, and eight years later I can't say I regret it. I think internet relationships have just as much chance of working as any other kind. By the time I met my husband offline, I knew him really well, in fact I knew more about him than I tend to learn about partners I met in other ways, because people are often more open online. It took just a couple hours for us to feel comfortable together, and that's typically what it takes for me to be comfortable with friends as well.

Yes, a lot of my friends met their boyfriends and the love of their life online. I have had no such luck.

I've never done that but I don't think it's right. I don't see anything wrong with them being friends but how can you expect to have a relationship over the internet? If you meet in person it's probably not going to meet your expectations. Besides, if you do that, how do you know they don't have several other online relationships like yours? People usually pretend to be completely different people online anyway. For instance, they might send you a really great picture but they end up to be ugly. I just don't think it's a good idea.

I've met quite a few people from the internet, some of whom I've had very close friendships with. The great thing about meeting someone from the internet is that you can get to know them much quicker, without having to indulge in small talk like you do if you meet outside the internet. Also, you probably already have some sort of common interest, depending on where on the internet you met them. Personally, I don't find meeting up with people uncomfortable. I think that as long as you know them fairly well, then it doesn't seem too strange when you meet them in person.

Hi, I do not think internet relations never work out. I have had an internet romance for two years, yet I do not know what he sounds loke, I do not know how he smells. I do not know how he eats, wheather or not he has manners.

My gf moved in with me in late '04.We had talked on the phone only once, the rest had been an internet "getting to know you." I was at first a little intimidated, because she's so gorgeous, and didnt see how she could actually like me, but she sure does.I was never happy before the day she showed up at the door.

I have met quite a few people I know on the internet. Infact the person i am currently dating is one of them. for the most part, i have not been dispaoointed because I talk to these people on the phone before meeting them in person. That way I get a feel of how the pertson is and if i should take the trouble to actually meet.

I met my husband online 8 years ago. So far it is working for us! There was a group of us that talked on yahoo chat, and when I met my husband we moved in together 3 months later. One of the other people that was in our chat group came to visit us after we had our first child. So internet relations can carry over into real life.

Yes I do, she was from Maryland USA. First meeting of course.....both parties try to make the best comfortable introductions as previously we only have photos. But after long hours being together we feel up to have more next meeting. She's OK, good looking and politest and not disappoint me.....and we still friend until today and among us don't want to take fast track in making conclusion for next intention....

I don't think they will stay together,many of my friends seprated at last

Personally I haven't experience it but i have friends who actually getting together through online chat room. For me, it would be a kind of strange feeling if I meet up a friend from the online encounter. May be I will be getting surprise or may be will feel disappointed too if the person doesn't turn out to be what I'm expected.

Hi Rollo, I have been an internet fan since 2001. People who are not au fait with chat and the internet look at me askance when I say I have met at least 7 chat friends and travelled to the other side of my world to meet some of them. When I met them it was as if I'd known them forever. I wasnt in anyway disappointed because we had developed a firm friendship already. I feel the thing about the internet is that you get to know people so quickly and in a deeper way a lot faster than you might in real life. So yes I was comfortable with them immediately. Of course there are a some phoney chatters but one soon sorts them out. I can honestly say, from personal experience that internet relationships definitely carry over into real life. I wouldnt mind meeting an intersting person such as you Rollo, in real life. Glenniah

I don't know. I find it hard to build a solid foundation in a relationship with the internet. I probably have stronger relationships with people who I already met. It is strangely compelling to meet a stranger. I guess for those who are familiar with new relationships could be open to this.

I've met somebody who became my close friend. However she is the gender as me and we shared almost everything. She is also a home maker like me. I haven't met her personally but I know she is a very nice person. I've asked her about the game Diner Dash and she straight away posted me a copy of saved CD of Diner Dash game. I was so grateful that I met her. She is indeed my best friend.

i have some friends they met their partners now in the net. usually they have of the same feelings the first time they met. they are excited and don't know what to do. but usually their relationship ended in marriage.

Yes it could be brought into real life romance. A friend of mine had been chatting with this guy for i guess months and after months of chatting, the guy came into our country and both of them decided to get married.. It's not how you guys met each other, i guess whats more important is the time spent together when you finally saw each other and how you guys made it enjoyable.