Are internet friends "real" friends?

I'm doing my 3rd year dissertation on lonliness and internet usage, and it's got me thinking about a lot of things and I just wondered what OT's take on it is.

Are internet friends "real" friends?

Do we need actual physically meet with a person in order for them to count as a friend, or can we assume anyone we have regular contact with online who we get along with is a friend? For me, I have a Facebook and a MySpace but I never add anyone (beside bands) who I've never met in person. Same goes for my Xfire and Steam accounts.

Thoughts?

They're not to me.

Sorry guys. :(

And a dissertation on 'loneliness and internet usage'? Oh God, you couldn't have picked a better place to come for that. :lol:

They're not to me.

Sorry guys. :(

And a dissertation on 'loneliness and internet usage'? Oh God, you couldn't have picked a better place to come for that. :lol:

Dark__Link

I know :p

I'm seriously trying to fit in that "OT Girls Advice" pic in somewhere. Maybe in references.

I wouldn't say that they provide anywhere near what you get from real-life interactions with people, but I'd say it's better than nothing. I have a few people I've known for years without ever actually meeting them in person, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to call them friends.GabuEx

A friend is a friend is a friend

It doesn't matter where they come from as long as they're a friend.

The one difference is that online you only have "first tier" friends. In real life you have to have the "crap, ok I'll put up with you" friends and when you hang out with your REAL friends they tag along and you don't kick them out.

Online you just stick with the first tier ones, you don't need to deal with the stragglers.

My friends list says 66.

About 15 of those people I consider real friends. They actually cheered me up when I was down.

I wouldn't say that they provide anywhere near what you get from real-life interactions with people, but I'd say it's better than nothing. I have a few people I've known for years without ever actually meeting them in person, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to call them friends.GabuEx

This. I know some people I've met on here more than some of my friends I've actually met in person. :?

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]I wouldn't say that they provide anywhere near what you get from real-life interactions with people, but I'd say it's better than nothing. I have a few people I've known for years without ever actually meeting them in person, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to call them friends.scorch-62

This. I know some people I've met on here more than some of my friends I've actually met. :?

I believe so. I often think to myself, would I hang out with my 'friends' on GS if this was real life, and would we have conversations like we do here (Or on MSN, AIM, etc.). I came to the conclusion that yes, we would. Therefor, I say yes.

A friend is a friend is a friend

It doesn't matter where they come from as long as they're a friend.

The one difference is that online you only have "first tier" friends. In real life you have to have the "crap, ok I'll put up with you" friends and when you hang out with your REAL friends they tag along and you don't kick them out.

Online you just stick with the first tier ones, you don't need to deal with the stragglers.

Jaysonguy

Not at all .... those who are lucky enough to have experienced true friendship should surely know this ...

Not at all .... those who are lucky enough to have experienced true friendship should surely know this ...

soren008

I'm glad all the contact with your friends is always done in person.

I'm sure that's not intrusive at all

no, i wouldn't count online friends as real friends. i found a lot that i only talk to on video games.

some people r just good and find good friends online from chatting with them.

I would say yes...to some extent.

They're friends swaying more to aquaintances rather than what some call "best-friends"

But I would still say friends =]

People call God a friend, has anyone alive met him?

[QUOTE="soren008"]

Not at all .... those who are lucky enough to have experienced true friendship should surely know this ...

Jaysonguy

I'm glad all the contact with your friends is always done in person.

I'm sure that's not intrusive at all

?

Your being sarcastic?

I've made some good friends on here, but of course, they'll never be "real" friends.bangell99

What do you define as a "real" friend then?

Depends on how close you get to know that person. If its on par with the ppl u really noe n talk to etc....Then maybe..

Otherwise no.

Yes. Just because they can't **** in your mouth while you sleep doesn't mean they aren't your real friends.Bloodbath_87

er ... what? :|