I myself am quite a friend collector. Once I get you into my web I tend to keep in touch and try not to let you go. I still wonder and ponder about long lost acquaintances from the past. Hoping their lives and dreams have followed the path of their desire. I try to keep in touch with all of my past friends and acquaintances. For some strange reason I have a real memory for someones birth-date. Tell me once and it sticks in my mind. I might not see or hear from you for years but on that date I will have a feeling and rack my brain why the date rings a bell. I find the hardest part about internet friends is if they disappear you have no way of knowing what has happened. I think of myself as a friendly person. Every once in awhile I do meet someone that I find doesn't warm to me and I think what did I do wrong? why don't they like me? I don't find myself lacking in self esteem but wonder what I am that doesn't appeal to them.
Question for anyone that chooses to answer:
do you find it easier to talk with people when your online and not face to face?
what do you think of people that you don't hit it off with?
I dont find it any easier to talk to people here. in many cases i think this is more difficult for me. I wont add friends many times unless I have read the page more thana few times, left a few comments, not been scolded for my thoughts. If you havent noticed, i have the same really small group of friends here that I had on 360. I know that most of the people here are really great, but i am just not brave enough to introduce myself many times.
ReplyDeletethere arent too many times i dont hit it off with people. I have had the experience here though and I just dont bother with them. in my real life and my friends here, i just dont bother with them.
I used to be one to make many, many friends, but in the past couple of years, I have focused only on maintaining friendships with an easy give and take, whether online or in real life. That has made it much easier for me to develop more satisfying friendships, since I'm not wasting my time on acquaintanceships and energy sucking vampires.
ReplyDeleteI can talk to just about anyone, in any forum, which comes in handy for things like work. However, in personal forums, I am more selective. I've discovered that I truly enjoy meeting people online, as it gives me a chance to see if they can express themselves in writing -- an ability I value highly. Meeting people and making friends in person has the benefit of seeing a person's interpersonal style, and looking them in the eye during a conversation. Also really valuable.
What that means to me, then, is that I don't have a preference for online or in person -- it's all good. :-)
Yep, what they said. LOL Anyway,,,I find it the same online as in person to talk to people, but easier online to meet people, In my busy day to day, I have a few good friends that I keep in touch with. I agree with what Haleyinca wrote about having a smaller group of satisfying friendships. I think it's wonderful when people get to meet their online friends, that's something I hope to do someday.
ReplyDeleteAs far as not hitting it off with someone??well you can't like everyone, and visa versa. Don't you wish you had a "delete" button in real life too, LOL!!
Lets see - in terms of meeting people - I find it easier to talk with them online because there's not that fear of rejection. Once I know them - if I can visit face to face, that's great - but being as busy as we all are - online is just fine too. But I'd much rather email or post messages back and forth than to try to instant message them - again, its that time issue. As Haley said, you do have to be more careful online because a lot of the "cues" of face to face conversation are missing.
ReplyDeleteAs to your second question - you know how divine I am, so if someone doesn't hit it off with me - there must be something wrong with them, eh?
Seriously though - I used to get all worried when someone didn't seem to like me but then I realized there are lots of reasons for that - most of which have nothing to do with me at all - perhaps I remind them of an ex, for example.
And you didn't ask, but I also become concerned when people vanish from the internet. Again, though, in the cases where I've found out what has happened, generally it's not anything bad - it's that they found themselves "addicted" and decided they needed to give it up cold turkey - or they were using the computer to fill a need that they don't have anymore - for example, I've had friends meet their soulmates online - and then they go off into the sunset and leave the internet world.
Sometimes it's easier to unburden myself to someone I don't know well, whether it's in person or online. I do try to maintain the same standards of behavior either way--i.e., no mean-talking or gossip.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, I _don't_ think about people who don't like me. I figure it's their loss. Unless it was someone I _thought_ I was getting along with. Then it can hurt.
hmmmm...good questions C !
ReplyDeleteI can very easily talk face to face or online. I have the gift of gab! However, I find it easier maintaining friends on line as physical ones take up way to much of my time! LOL! I even liaise with my real life friends on facebook more then I do with them in person! LOL! Its just quicker and easier!
I have had plenty of people online that didn't hit if off with me and vice versa! Personalities play a big part of online friendships. I think that the written word can be easily misunderstood or misinterpreted and can lead to people not hittin it off, but when it does happen I rarely give it a second thought.
Hmmm....I will try and answer, then read the other responses here. I often prefer to talk to people I know in real time because of the fact that so much of good communication is based on inflection, facial expressions, and things like that. But for meeting new people, it probably is easier online. I say that because I tend to talk to new friends online more than I talk to the people who live right next door to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind if I don't hit it off with people as long as they go by the "live and let live" rule. Because I often have strong opinions and am willing to write about them, I expect there will be people who disagree with me. They may not like me for it. That's ok as long as they don't attack me. If someone disappears and doesn't take the time to give me a reason, I take that as a reflection of that person - not me. There are so many people here with busy lives. We can't always know their true motivations.
That all being said, I very much enjoy meeting new people around here!
CArol, im gonna sponde to stonegirl kinda here if you dont mind.
ReplyDeleteI understnad what you mean by writing your strong opinions and gettign attacked. I had that happen to me. I even tried to reason with the attacker(My mistake) but it had no affect. she just got more pissed off at me. OH well. life goes on.
It's true that when reading online people can read something more or less then the author intended. I have some very good friends online and some very good ones in real life. I think one should have a healthy balance.
ReplyDelete