What's your opinion on online relationships?

[Carl]

I think online relationships can work, but it depends on the individuals involved and the circumstances around it. The thing to remember is: everyone is different, each couple is different, and every circumstance is different. For someone it might be the right choice to hook up with someone they met online after a few months of knowing the person, but for someone else it might not be a good idea to get into a relationship with someone they've known online and had a crush on for years. In the end, it's a risk that is up to each person to choose whether or not to take. Even if it is against their better judgement.

Of course, in order for it to work out, the couple has to meet irl at some point. They can't be in a relationship and never physically be in the same place. It just wouldn't work.

[FlipMode]

I don't really have an opinion on this to be honest...I mean, obviously it's worked for some people. I agree with what Woeler said about the Internet being a good place to meet people to get to know better & potentially falling in love with, but as for actually maintaining an online relationship without EVER meeting IRL...that would be incredibly difficult for me at least. I just can't imagine how it'd work. I've never been in a serious relationship myself because unlike most people my age I'm waiting for "the one", so I don't have a lot of experience with these things, lol....but surely the physical aspect of it all is also kind of...important? You can't hug someone through a computer screen.

I agree with a lot of this, also it depends really. The silly excuse of relationships on say, here for example then no but signing up to a dating site, from what I understand of it is a completely different thing, it's much more personal for one and signs you with people who actually live within a million miles of you for another.

So yeah, if you are serious and use a site dedicated for relationships then yeah but generally on the Internet forums and stuff it's a bit silly really. It's easy to sit there and type "I love you" but it's harder to much harder to say it to someone IRL (and actually mean it)

[Regulus]

I agree with a lot of this, also it depends really. The silly excuse of relationships on say, here for example then no but signing up to a dating site, from what I understand of it is a completely different thing, it's much more personal for one and signs you with people who actually live within a million miles of you for another.

So yeah, if you are serious and use a site dedicated for relationships then yeah but generally on the Internet forums and stuff it's a bit silly really. It's easy to sit there and type "I love you" but it's harder to much harder to say it to someone IRL (and actually mean it)

It depends on the situation, really, but history, along with my gut instinct, seems to suggest you are correct.

However, look at the average age of members here. Almost everyone is in the 13-20 range. Just from a biological perspective, the amount of silliness does make sense.

I'm not even sure it's possible to have a serious relationship until one is at least finished with school, and past the starting stages of establishing a career. Note that I am distinguishing between a relationship and a serious relationship here.

Anyone who thinks they're in a serious relationship before they're able to look out for themself is, more than likely, going to end up on some ridiculous TV show like Teen Mom.

[AdAstrα]

I agree with the above. I'm not in a relationship at the moment and to be honest I don't feel like I even want to be, not right now. I'm busy trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life, I don't have time to think about relationships xD It'd be too much of a commitment for me right now. That being said, if I found the right person my views might change.

[Carl]

Honestly I spent the last few years wanting a relationship, only to regret it as soon as I found myself in an excuse for one. I decided I didn't want anything to do with that horsecrap anymore til I get out of school. Then, lo and behold, I met another person online that I really like. Thinking about the situation, and the fact that I wasn't interested in making the same mistake again, I didn't say anything for a while, and I didn't plan on saying anything. In fact, I tried to make the attraction go away. Now I'm in a position where that person knows how I feel, and seems to feel the same way, but we agreed not to get into a relationship (because of distance, haven't really known each other long, etc.). At this point, whether we call it a 'relationship' or not doesn't matter. If we're both being honest about our feelings, we could both easily end up hurt anyway.
Once you're attached to someone they don't have to be your bf/gf to end up upsetting you or hurting you. And one can become attached to someone even if the topic of relationships never comes up.

Really it's just like falling for someone irl in most respects. A person can't choose who to grow fond of, and once they have grown fond of someone, the absence of a mere word won't make things less difficult on that person. So, in my opinion, if you have feelings for someone you met online, or if you think you do, you might as well give it a shot. You won't know until you try. But that doesn't mean it's okay to be stupid if/when you meet up irl. Even if you trust the person, you should still be careful.

[Regulus]

I agree with the above. I'm not in a relationship at the moment and to be honest I don't feel like I even want to be, not right now. I'm busy trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with my life, I don't have time to think about relationships xD It'd be too much of a commitment for me right now. That being said, if I found the right person my views might change.

That being said, how do you know if you've found the right person until you know what kind of person is the wrong person?

I think there is an evolutionary reason why unserious relationships develop so frequently. I think it's part of that 'trying to find your way in life' thing. It's all trial and error, really.

As silly as it is, I can understand it. How do you know it isn't going to work out, until you try? In the end, the worst that can happen is a simple waste of time unless you're dating a serial killer. But even if a great amount of time was wasted, I'm sure it would gain insight to at least *something.*

Failure is always an option. Even in relationships. The problem is when people don't realize that. Really though, I think that's just common sense. You know how the saying goes, never keep all your eggs in the same basket. Again, it's best to keep everything in moderation, if at all possible.

Honestly I spent the last few years wanting a relationship, only to regret it as soon as I found myself in an excuse for one. I decided I didn't want anything to do with that horsecrap anymore til I get out of school.

My point exactly.