In real life no one quotes you over and over and over as they rip your words to shreds.
They just walk away and think "wanker".
They just walk away and think "wanker".
How much do internet friends 'matter'
- Thread starter Trekkin
- Start date
I have struggled with this in the past. I didn't think people online were "real" and only considered people offline "real". I think this has ruined chances to get to know some pretty great people. It really is about your attitude, if some is a friend then they are whether it is online or offline. 
Well, here is to the fervent hope that no one ever thinks I am a Wanker!
<...cue Perry Como singing, "It's Impossible"...>
I have struggled with this in the past. I didn't think people online were "real" and only considered people offline "real". I think this has ruined chances to get to know some pretty great people. It really is about your attitude, if some is a friend then they are whether it is online or offline.
By the Maker, Tay!
Well, except for some politicians and radio talk show hosts. But if you're friends with those people you have far bigger problems than being quoted and having your words ripped up and analyzed.
Unless they really are the kind that quotes you over and over and rip your words to shreds and never listen to explanations or clarifications and refuse to consider that you might not have recalled something accurately or misinterpreted something.
I've experienced this online and offline. And the offline person who does this turns around and wonders why I don't have warm and fuzzy feelings toward them.
Yeah, I gotta disagree with this, too.
There are some people who, face to face in real life, do engage others by recollecting what they've said and attempting to undermine it.
Family arguments often have that exact dynamic and can get quite extensive. Another not infrequent example is that of a substance abuser trying to manipulate someone, which can take on the additional dimension of quoting the person out of context and twisting their words for some kind of immediate advantage.
I can't think of a healthy interchange like this, though.
Dude, just delete your family. Unfriend the drug addict. Put the shit people on IGNORE.
I disagree with it because I've done Evidence law, and know about 50 ways to get around hearsay objections.
The legal system - where any sort of ambiguity will be pounced on like a cat who spotted some nip. Hence why your representation will generally tell you to just keep your trap shut.
You guys!
Let me sell you a nice, bammity BAN hammer.
You don't even have to use it half the time, just point it across the dinner table!
Let me sell you a nice, bammity BAN hammer.
You don't even have to use it half the time, just point it across the dinner table!
You can never really trust a person who's just a name online. Now, maybe you can with some people, 'cause on forums I've seen members talk about e-mailing and even calling each other up and becoming good friends (and on rare occassions reporting the passing of a person by callign family and then reporting back to us).
I prefer to think of people as subscribers or on rare occassion aquaintances as we might exchange some PM's or e-mails. I can't recall an instance where I've become legitimate friends with somebody this way. People need to stop seeing them as "Friend" requests" and more as subscribers. I try to make an effort, though I don't always remember to do so, to PM somebody who makes a friend request and chat with them a little, to see what is what. Heck, you never know what kind of fun you might have. Hell, I made this phone call to somebody in Hollywood once and before I even got my name out or why I was calling, we verbally went back and forth on this bizarre funny banter -- no wonder the person he works for reportedly sometimes doesnt' get things done; it was good fun. I just got a friend request here tow or three days ago, and I've started up a PM exchange.
I prefer to think of people as subscribers or on rare occassion aquaintances as we might exchange some PM's or e-mails. I can't recall an instance where I've become legitimate friends with somebody this way. People need to stop seeing them as "Friend" requests" and more as subscribers. I try to make an effort, though I don't always remember to do so, to PM somebody who makes a friend request and chat with them a little, to see what is what. Heck, you never know what kind of fun you might have. Hell, I made this phone call to somebody in Hollywood once and before I even got my name out or why I was calling, we verbally went back and forth on this bizarre funny banter -- no wonder the person he works for reportedly sometimes doesnt' get things done; it was good fun. I just got a friend request here tow or three days ago, and I've started up a PM exchange.
The term "subscribers" would be apt on some kinds of sites where you want to follow specific peoples' posts. But here you can read them all you want without having to get easier access via a friend request, so here a friend request probably means more (at least it does to me).
That partly explains why I have over 300 people on my friends list on the Cheezburger site (have only ever met one other in person; she and I have been RL friends for over 30 years). Most could be considered "subscribers" because they enjoy the lolpics I make and we have one or more common interests. I'm pretty picky about who I accept there, and people who are just "friend collectors" don't get accepted.
That partly explains why I have over 300 people on my friends list on the Cheezburger site (have only ever met one other in person; she and I have been RL friends for over 30 years). Most could be considered "subscribers" because they enjoy the lolpics I make and we have one or more common interests. I'm pretty picky about who I accept there, and people who are just "friend collectors" don't get accepted.
^^ Yeah, followers aren't friends. I have hundreds of followers who I've never interacted with at all.
But, since people on the Internet are people, they matter as much or as little as people in real life. Some are great friends who matter a great deal to me and some are just weirdos who I tell funny stories about at parties, and many are acquaintances who I enjoy talking to from time to time. In some ways, you could say they matter more. Real-life friends became friends because we worked together or lived near each other or went to school together-- online friends became friends because we share interests or hobbies or a philosophy.
But, since people on the Internet are people, they matter as much or as little as people in real life. Some are great friends who matter a great deal to me and some are just weirdos who I tell funny stories about at parties, and many are acquaintances who I enjoy talking to from time to time. In some ways, you could say they matter more. Real-life friends became friends because we worked together or lived near each other or went to school together-- online friends became friends because we share interests or hobbies or a philosophy.
I will never forget you or AA. I miss you both, but I'm glad you're so happy together that you have little time to be online.
It was one of those B5 movies, wasn't it?
Odd thing about followers... I picked up one on Twitter who I don't know, never heard of, and have no idea why he decided to follow me. I don't post anything personal, and most of my activity there is Canadian-oriented.
I don't use a twitter as it's a slew of anal bilge gushing into the smiling faces of narcissists but if I did, I'd almost certainly just randomly follow strangers and help them feel special until one day their inevitable personality disorder lead them to butcher and eat their neighbours
Mine are on Tumblr, which can be a pretty weird place in its own right.
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