Is it normal to think that online friends are copouts?

73% Normal
8 Comments

I used to be very active online in forums and an RP group. I still moderate a site I've been on for 5 years and I know just about everyone in the community. Still, I don't try to emotionally connect anymore because I've realized that I will likely never meet these people and if I did, I'd probably be disappointed.

There's no eye contact, touching, or (often) sight in these friendships. It's easy to get around your social downfalls and decide that you'll stop trying at offline relationships because typing or chatting on a webcam only on your good days is easier. Recently I've been seeing posts on places like tumblr saying "reblog if your online friends are more important than offline friends." and while I'd agree 4 years ago, I don't now.

I hate seeing young people like me give up on communicating and getting over their "anxiety" because they fall into the comfort of online relationships. Is this a normal feeling?
(And no, I don't have a blossoming social life outside of the internet, but I'm trying.)

Voting Results
73% Normal
Based on 40 votes (29 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • InsertUniqueUserName
    12 years ago

    This is a pretty normal thought, I think. I definitely see where you're coming from, but at the same time, just because you can't physically manifest a friendship doesn't mean that you can't make an intellectual connection.

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  • Megid
    12 years ago

    I agree.

    My online friends are much closer to me than any offline friend. It's much easier to be yourself, but also someone you are not.

    My offline social life is entirely at work. I feel respected by my coworkers, which puts me in a comfortable position to speak with them as friends.

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  • burgerman123
    12 years ago

    It's normal in that it's common, but I think it's incorrect. Let's face it - the human condition encompasses a WIDE range of possible experiences. Sometimes the "normal" paths don't suit certain people, and that's okay. Even if it's symptomatic of social anxiety or something, its use as a crutch doesn't delegitimize it any more than the use of a real crutch by someone with a broken leg.

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  • Alison89
    12 years ago

    I don't know if it's copping out or not, but Internet friends are different from other kinds of friends.

    I went to a friend's wedding that had about half the guests as Internet friends from some stupid website. You didn't even have to ask who the Internet friends were. They were all under-dressed, none of them brought gifts, and they ate all the food.

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  • Angel_in_a_Glass_Dress
    12 years ago

    To me, no.

    I'm not entirely sure what you'd be copping out on by having friendships with people you never meet. I mean if that's ALL you had for friends then that might be an issue but it's OK to have a mix.

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  • mexiguytex87
    12 years ago

    I'm new to this and don't have many friends, but I do think its normal, you probably are just tired of looking at an expressless screen, and want more human interaction. There is nothing wrong with online frriends though. A friend is a friend, better then no friend

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  • GeorgeMcBob
    12 years ago

    tl;dr

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  • hottmess
    12 years ago

    You're the normal one, society is messed up.

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