Online Friends
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
January 1, 2016 9:55am CST
Isn't the online community wonderful? I've only been using a computer for 2 and a half years, and the main thing I've learnt in that time is that people I meet online can become genuine friends.
I don't need to meet you face-to-face to feel real warmth for you, and from you as well. The more I interact with you, the more personality emerges and you become much more than just a user name.
It's such fun exchanging views and learning about your lifestyles. You may be in a far country, of a different age group, in a different walk of life, but often something just clicks and we can relate to each other and become friends.
Another thing I've noticed is that if anyone is in trouble there will be lots of people trying to comfort them with advice and compassion. No-one need feel really alone if they have access to sites like Mylot.
My geography has also improved immensely. If I'm conversing with you I like to know where you are, and if your location is included on your profile I will look it up.
I may have come to this computer world rather late, but I'm enjoying every minute of it. So thank you to all of you who are already my friends, but If you're not - just remember that a stranger is just a friend waiting to be discovered.
69 people like this
64 responses
@LadyDuck (471356)
• Switzerland
1 Jan 16
What a wonderful thing to say, you are right a stranger is just a friend waiting to be discovered, at least this is how this site works. I also search on the map the locations of the users I know. I have found many places that I did not even know existed.
11 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 16
@Asylum I wasn't actually saying that I knew people well Barry, just that I can feel great warmth and affection for them, and consider them friends. It's true that we only know what the other person chooses to post, but sometimes more can be revealed than the poster actually intended.
4 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
Beautifully said! Right now myLot is a great spot to be in for many reasons as you have discussed. 
4 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
@jaboUK Thank you! Actually that is the correct translation into English of my given name on my birth certificate.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@1hopefulman Hey, I love that you call yourself 'Happy' now! I'm so glad you agree with me.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
2 Jan 16
Actually, though, Marie, she came into our life first at Bubblews. It's great though that we all migrated here to continue our friendships.
5 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
1 Jan 16
In the years BC (before computers) we would have called ourselves "pen pals" - maybe there is nothing new about this kind of friendship. It does show how powerful our words and thoughts can be in revealing ourselves to the world.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@troyburns Yes - similar tp pen pals, but we don't have to wait weeks for a letter to arrive!
3 people like this
@just4him (317040)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
1 Jan 16
Online friendships also make the world a very small place. When I log onto myLot, I feel like I've stepped into your living room, or I've come home and I'm looking to find out what's being served up that day and if I need to bring a bowl of compassion to the table. It's a wonderful place, filled with so many likeminded people with one thing in common - we need each other. Now, what's for dinner?
6 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
2 Jan 16
I am always excited by the internationalism of cyberspace and its multiculturalism is extremely healthy
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@arthurchappell Whew! - Some long words there Arthur, but I do agree.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
2 Jan 16
Like they say - better late than never! I met people (some who are on here) when I got involved with online writing back in 08 and we still are online friends. Several I've met in person! One lady was driving to FL with her sister and we were their 1/2 stop so they got a motel near us and we got to meet. A few others live within an hour of me. they are all friends now!
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@jaboUK Yes it is and one of those friends is the person who has the blog that I write for.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill Isn't it great that friendships can be formed that way?
3 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Jan 16
This is the major benefit of internet,bringing the world together
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 16
@Missmwngi Yes, it does bring us together without any geographical barriers.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Jan 16
@jaboUK And in a more comfortable and understanding manner
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Jan 16
You have described online friendships very well. I especially love learning about people in other places.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 16
@ElizabethWallace It can be educational as well as fun, can't it? I think I've learned more in the last two years than the 30 years before that.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8084)
• United States
1 Jan 16
Welcome to the world of technology! Yes, we can find really good friends online, but also some not so good, so we need to be careful if we decide to meet someone in person.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 16
@Carmelanirel2 I've met two people in person, and they are every bit as nice as they come across online. However I do take your point - people may not always be as they seem.
5 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It really is true, these truly are friends and the few that I have actually met have been just as delightly as I expected.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@jaboUK It really is and I think in some ways we even share more with our online friends than our in person friends. There is something about the Internet that has us baring our souls lol
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@BelleStarr Yes I've found that - you may not realise it but I am actually quite reserved
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@BelleStarr I'm glad that you have found the same thing Isabelle, isn't it wonderful?
2 people like this
. Still it brightens up my 'twilight years'
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
2 Jan 16
I agree with you. Online friends are seriously the best and personally, I have found them way more better than the people I do interact with face to face.
But there is one person in particular who I met online and he is seriously my best friend ever. I don't really care about technology and the internet all that much but I LOVE it knowing it's the only way I can communicate with him.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@VivaLaDani13 I'm pleased that you have found such a good friend via the internet. Do you plan to ever meet up?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@VivaLaDani13 That is really something to look forward to - I hope it works out for you.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
2 Jan 16
@jaboUK Even that question made me smile ear to ear because yes we are. I want to go to where he is though because I have always wanted to go to where he lives which is in Texas. I had a goal to save up a certain amount of money before the new year and I reached that goal so I do have enough for the plane ticket at least but will need to save a bit more. Also not 100% sure when it is I will be flying over there but I am so excited just thinking about it!
2 people like this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It is true, there are so many wonderful people here, many of which are friends from previous sites. I do enjoy learning about different cultures and this is a wonderful place to do so. I consider you to be one of my best "online friends" and I hope you have a wonderful 2016!
2 people like this
