Do You Think That The Internet Has Broken Up Friendships That Would Still Be

I think casual internet usage has contributed to break ups in two main ways. The first way is that internet access makes it really easy for someone to say something quickly, before thinking about whether or not it should be said or even how to say it in such a way that it won't cause hard feelings. The second way is that the mistaken feeling of being anonymous leads some people to say things that they would never have said if they thought it would come back to haunt them. I say casual internet usage because there are many constructive ways to use the internet. I've been exposed to a lot of things via the internet that resulted in improvements in my quality of life. Online shopping saves me thousands of dollars a year. I've participated in programs that I would never have heard of if it hadn't been for the internet. I've taken classes that were only internet access courses. I think internet usage is what you make of it, and there will always be people abusing the service. Wouldn't you say texting has broken up friendships as well?

Well i think it depends on the internet users not the internet. Even without internet we could sometimes broke our frienships too. For me, internet really is a big help for me communicating with my friends and als making new friends. It's true that we can't deny that there are some people breaking up their friendship because they are too addicted to internet but still, i think it not the internet's fault.

Seems to me that in those cases the friendships probably weren't that secure to begin with, and it was just a matter of time before they hit the skids, the Internet just happened to be the preferred medium.

I can see both ways. I see it happen more often than not but I have seen many relationships succeed. I've witnessed it in real life as well. Heck, I had it happen to me. Stupid fight, pride got in the way, we quit talking it wasn't until over 6 years ago when I happened to run across her in Facebook. I sent her a friends invite which she approved, I sent her 1 letter, and it wasn't replied to. I have posted on her wall, but never was responded to. Because of pride on both our parts in real life, we both lost a great friendship. I have also lost a friend over the internet because I had been talking to a girl for years and we were just friends, then I met another girl on AOL and that lasted a while. I moved to WA and couldn't get on the computer as much, and the second girl had a fit because I didn't talk to her as much as the first one. It happened to be our schedules, but its a good thing, because she was psycho, very psycho. I have plenty of other examples for both. I do believe that with sending text messages, email, and being able to chat online has made working things out or breaking up not as personal and therefore much easier. What can you do? Technology isn't going away, it will only advance.

most of my friends are from the internet. since i became disabled i only have a couple thats not from the internet. i do think facebook breaks up people. mostly couples. they talk to other men or women and flirt and end up fighting. my kids do it all the time.

I quit facebook because it is full of playground squabbles and repostings of stuff that really does make you wonder about some of the people you know IRL. Some people who are fine when you meet them in real life seem to have something of a personality change once they get behind the keyboard! Perhaps part of the problem is that some people think they have to keep posting and so start posting without thinking it through first and that's when all the immaturity and idiocy starts to come out. They also forget that you might not be interested in certain aspects of their lives - someone you meet at a quilting group "sharing" their interest in the World of Warcraft scene or vice versa! There's some stuff I don't need/want to know about other people but a lot of people think you should comment on every little thing they put out there and take it as a personal affront when you don't give them attention. Of course, there are also those who aren't good friends anyway who get caught out because someone finds out what they have been saying behind people's backs via the internet. In those cases, don't blame the internet but the behaviour in the first place! I don't interact much with my IRL friends on the internet at all and much prefer it that way.

Oh yes I have seen it, old friends meeting up again on line and sharing past experiences not the type of thing that wives and girlfriends really like much, and I think the webcam presents more problems, it has caused a lot of problems.

Sadly I think so. The Internet has brought us closer together which can really be a good thing but we can be a bad thing. Which is the reason why I try and force a separation of Internet and real life as much as rather possible. There are times where on the Internet, we have no space from our friends and if we allow it, they learn too much. And it really gets ugly when real life arguments that could blow over after a couple of days, rather increases the chances of the argument rather being so much more. And other friends get pulled into the situation. That's why I have a rule, no chatting with my real life friends on the Internet. That's why I've pretty much left Facebook(among other reasons). Arguments that can be easily resolved blow up on the Internet, is going to be much more horrific and lead to the end of normally strong friendships.

Yap, you are right.Its now happening. I face this. But still there lot of facilities and good uses.Even we can get more friends by the help of internet.

That is partly true. Sometimes the influence and biasism of media towards issues make it so big even if it was just a minor issue. I wish the media or internet would have limit on what to post or not. The other thing is that we should be strong enough to decide what is wrong and right but not easily influenced.

This happens all the time, it may have been done directly or indirectly but many friendships have been torn apart by the internet. I wouldn't blame it all to the "Internet", i would also put the blame to the persons not using the internet properly because, internet in itself is very useful to us in many ways, but if misused could lead to a problem such as broken friendships and ended relationships

Absoulutely~!