Are online friends as valuable as friends in real life?

Of course they are as valuable I met my husband online. Of course after you get close with somebody online, it naturally follows that you would want to plan to meet in person. I have some close friends that I met online while I was pregnant, we all live pretty far apart but we do hope someday (before the kids are all in college) that we can get together and have a big girls' get together. Value, like beauty, is in the eye (grasp?) of the beholder or friend, so I suppose it would be different for each of us depending on the friendship.

Sometimes they are more accessible, at least for me. I have two really solid friends in real life, and a bunch here on the internet. I am really blessed.

Friends are great regardless of whether they are online or in real life. Both have their own seperate advantages. Fiends in real life can go out and have a drink with you when life seems like it is simply too much. They can lend that shoulder to cry on or give that hug. They can help with the kids or if you are ill with the housework. Friends online are great because you can vent about the boss, kids, hubby, or the real life friends. They don't know these people so they are always on your side and you have no risk of your rampages getting back to these people and hurting those you really care about. They don't usually ask for nearly as much time as the real life friends either. If you dont have time to chat with an online friend they usually understand. Real life friends sometimes think that you are ignoring them if you cannot call as often as you like.

I think real friends should be better (my opinion)