Can we be really friends online?

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I think so. In the almost two years I'm online it happened sometime (four that I can remember) that something really bad happened in the life of one of my online friends.

I always am at lost in this event, what can I do? obviously you send a mail, you say I'm thinking at you, but it always seems to little to do. Above all when what happened to your friend is so similar to what happened to yourself. I lost my father to cancer and that experience will always remains with me, and when the same thing occurs to my friends, it happens to me again for a moment.

Online you have the chance to meet a lot of people, and usually you exchange happy emails in which your life seems always an happy heaven. If something bad occurs, it remains with you, or maybe to post a memo saying to your friends that you are fine, but you need time. And it's true, and it's right.

Yesterday I had a bad feeling for one of my friend online; he didn't act as usual, him that is a so kind and big heart man. So I ask around to common friends, since I unfortunately suspected what it was happening, and all my worst suspects were real. Since he was a so gentle man, he replied to my condolonce mail, and I know that he will face this event and that he will be again with us soon.

With this my post I want to let him know that I'm really thinking at him, it's not only a standard thing you say in these events. I feel for you William, you are one of the best friend I made online.

Elisa

Comments

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

You can absolutely be "really" friends with someone online. [nod] I've felt incredibly close to people I've met online. Some have drifted away, just as friends sometimes do in real life, while others I'm still in contact with.

One I'm married to now; we met in an online fantasy roleplaying game and would never have gotten together if it hadn't been for that online friendship.

Online friendships are just like real life -- they can be deep or shallow, depending on the people involved and how involved the people get. :)

I hope your friend is doing okay. [hugz]

Angie

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

I expect your friend will be pleased to read this note for him.

I am so fortunate to have met a wonderful gaggle of good friends online. I feel so strongly for them that I consider them real life friends, as they are there for me as much if not more than the so-called other real life friends.

Making friends online follows about the same guidelines of the real life friendships: chemistry, care, compassion, love and joy. I am truly blessed no matter which way I look at it.

[ebony-silvers.livejournal.com]

My closest friends were made online. I've met several in real life, talked to more of them on the phone. We've gotten together, traveled to see each other, shared rooms at conventions. One of my friends stayed with me after Katrina. I know I have online friends I can call who would help me if I needed them. As someone else said, online is just like not online. Some relationships are deep and some aren't.

I'm glad you could be there for your friend.

[laurazel.livejournal.com]

Tesoro, certo che si può essere amici online... ho i miei più cari amici online, con cui condivido gioie e dolori, passioni e problemi.
Internet è un mezzo ormai, per fare amicizie come un tempo si facevano giocando per strada da piccoli o andando al catechismo (bleah) a scuola o nei locali una volta cresciuti.
E se ti sembra di fare troppo poco per il tuo amico che soffre, sappi che il solo pensiero e comprensione ti fa essere presente e vicina nella sua vita.
Tesoro devo proprio dirtelo, mi spiace di aver saputo come hai perso tuo padre... è uno schifo questo mondo, a volte... vorrei abbracciarti forte forte...

[maximvanziel.livejournal.com]

I have no information about what happened. Did he lose his mother?
In any case, I hope his friends support him and wish him get over as soon as possible however it's must be very hard.