Are online friends 'real' friends?

[SlayerOfLight]

Ok, so you're saying it's common sense to believe that everyone on earth is a saint?

So you'd judge someone before you know them? Perfect logic.

Not judging, but being watchfull. Perfect logic indeed.

[InsaneSeagull]

It is a lot easier. 50 year old male pretending to be a 17 year old girl. IRL: not possible, on the internet: possible.

That's true, but I mentioned that only thing possible online and not IRL is gender snd years.

[Tora]

It is a lot easier. 50 year old male pretending to be a 17 year old girl. IRL: not possible, on the internet: possible.

That's true, but I mentioned that only thing possible online and not IRL is gender snd years.

And looks and emotion and facial expressions and unaccustomed senses etc.

Relative to real life it's a dangerhole. Especially in communities, you don't decide who you meet.

Yes because we can't see facial expressions and emotion over Skype.

[Tora]

Yes because we can't see facial expressions and emotion over Skype.

No we can't. Emotions are much more than looks. It's very easy to fake it over a webcam when you're not directly in front of a real person.

It's very easy to fake it when they're directly in front of you too.

[Tora]

Yes it is.

On a side note

Aside from feelings of loneliness, the survey revealed that people could embellish the truth when sharing online, perhaps to appear more interesting to others, or to “control” their online persona.

For instance, nearly 25 percent of American respondents admit they have exaggerated or lied about who they’ve met or what they’ve done on their social networks, with a staggering 39 percent having shared bad news, such as a death or divorce. They also show a tendency to shy away from face-to-face conversation, with 19 percent stating they prefer to engage in text or online contact.

This proves?

[Si-Amber]

Of all the people online, only a tiny percentage are secret pedos lying about their age. People just have to be sensible. Don't give out personal information to anyone unless you are pretty sure of their identity. Most real online friendships will involve having webcam convos or being Facebook friends. When people say your online friend could turn out to be a pedo/murderer/kidnapper, that is the worst case scenario.

Besides, the question of this thread is "are online friends REAL friends?" not "can you trust that EVERY person you meet online is who they say they are". I believe there are real, genuine friendships between people on this forum who have yet to meet each other.

[Tora]

You're case is invalid considering were not talking about senseless Facebook "friends." That doesn't prove more people lie on the internet. That only proves that some people lie on the internet. 25% that do as compared to 75% that don't.

[Tora]

Again your argument is invalid because you imply that ever single online person is lying about their details. It doesn't matter whether or not it has a greater chance to lie or not. The fact is that online friends can be REAL friends.

[Tora]

You and I share two different definitions of real friends. You want physical all the way and I see a friend as being a friend. Matters not if I can touch them or feel them. All that matters is that I can talk to them, spend time with them, and know them.

[Tora]

Indeed we have much like another topic.