A conversation with a fellow blogger Bryan, made me think about what it is that I seek when meeting people online. In the past, I have had several close relationships with people on the internet. I am curious if I am alone in this or if it has become a norm of my generation. I am also curious as to why developing this relationship online is so much more successful. Some of my very best friends are those I have met online and some I have never met in person.
The first significant person that I met online was a guy named Eric. Eric and I met under some very odd circumstances online. He was the first guy that I told I loved. I had a very rough childhood and Eric was always there to help. He was in college as I was in high school. Unfortunately, there is a sad story behind it but we don’t talk any more. I still think about him every day.
Joe and I met on a gay teen website. He was struggling with some very serious issues such as growing up as a gay Catholic in the Midwest. We shared stories and advice. We always appreciate each others company and insight. We still talk a few times a week. I have never met Joe in person, but I intend to soon.
Back in the day, I had another blog which has since been taken down and I met Kurt on there. Kurt is a guy from California who commented on my blog once and we started talking and hit it off. Kurt and I became good friends and offered each other advice. Again, Kurt is a bit older than I am. Feelings got a little carried away I think on both of our parts but after a while I ended up getting hurt. Looking back, at the time I was angry and upset. Now, I just see how foolish I was for getting that emotionally invested in someone who could never really work out. Kurt and I have not met, hopefully this will happen soon.
The most recent guy has been the one that visited this January. I have gone into extensive detail about him in the past so I am going to spare the details now. We are best friends for sure but there are more feelings on my end. I know that things will never work out with him, and I am coming to peace with that. Anthony has helped out with this.
So I ask, “Why do all of these significant relationships start online?” I think part of the answer is simply, the internet provides a place for people with similar interests to come together and talk. I think the other part has to do with the internet being an anonymous place that is more conductive to people revealing parts of themselves because they don’t have to look someone in the eye to tell them what they want them to know. I can sit here alone in my office and pour details about my life into my computer because it is just me and my computer. I know that some people from my “real life” read this blog and there are things in here that I don’t think I could tell them in person simply because some things are not that easy to share.
The people I have met online have certainly shaped who I am as a person and the internet has provided me the opportunity to meet some amazing people I would not have otherwise had. It is an amazing feeling to feel so much care, concern, and even love for a person that you have never met face to face. It’s a feeling I know I will continue to have for a long time to come.
