Are internet friends real friends?

[PDizzle418]

I did a search for this and another topic came up that was similar, however it was also over two years old so I'm going to rewtire this and phrase it the way I want rather than post on a 2 year old topic.

So here's my big Q escapist. Would you consider your online friends real friends?

This is something that has been on my mind recently as I've been in a clan that's done some changing mergine etc. and we've lost a few people that I genuinely enjoyed playing games with. Yes I dont' care so much as to actively pursure them and continue playing with them. keep in mind I've spent probably upwards of 60+ hours playing various games with. However at the end of the day are they really friends? is someone who you game with a friend, and I'm nto talking about the random dude who liked your joke so he added I'm talking about the guys or gals who you look for and intentionally play games with because you would rather play a game with them.

When you log off do you wonder what they are up to or have some knowledge of their offline life?

I feel like this is an ever growing part of what the internet has become, with social networking becoming more prevalant everyday, can someone you meet online qualify as a friend? can they be a better friend than someone you can touch?

*EDIT* adding question I've posted later in the topic to the front so new comers don't feel left out.
Do you think it's fair to simply just leave? to cut ties and move on with your life?

Have you guys ever lost an online relationship that you were glad you left afterwards or one that you wished hadn't gone?

*EDIT 2* new question keep going guys I love the responses this is a really fascinating topic for me and it's awesome to see how different the views are on it
Is it a good thing to become better friends with people online than those in real life?

 

[Souplex]

I try and keep the two distinct and separate. If my real friends came to the Escapist it would ruin it for me. Same if an Escapist came into my life.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Until i see them in a real life situation they're just Virtual Friends. I may see pictures and whatnot but i would like to encounter them in the real world.

 

[Free Thinker]

There's a threshold. I have a friend on Xbox Live. Known her since Shadowrun first came out on the 360 and we game at every opportunity. There's a requirement on time and what you know about them.

 

[Angry Caterpillar]

Are people online people?
-Yes
Are people capable of being friends?
-Yes
Are people online then capable of being friends?
-Yes

Whether or not they're better than someone you can touch...well, up to the individual I suppose.

 

[sheic99]

Well, I have some now internet friends who were once real friends because we live to far apart to hang out with on a regular basis. So, some of them are real friends.

 

[Hazy]

Sure would.

I certainly care enough about them, to the point where I would immediately look for another way to contact them if anything were to ever happen to my account.

I enjoy these people, so I don't see why they wouldn't qualify as friends.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Good God no. No offense to the people here, but I don;t believe you can actually become good friends without being able to affect each other in the realm of the physical.

 

[DividedUnity]

Well a friend is a friend regardless of whether you know them in person or not.

 

[Instant K4rma]

I try and keep the two distinct and separate. If my real friends came to the Escapist it would ruin it for me. Same if an Escapist came into my life.

You hit the nail on the head. This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Good question...I've met some of my friends from online in person a few times. They're the same in person as they are from online. Its nice sometimes to put a face to the name that I chat with on Ventrilo, but its certainly not necessary. On to the actual question...yes and no. Certain people that I really talk to and actually enjoy conversations with online, yes, you are a friend. Same goes for people in real life. I probably have more friends online than I do in real life anyway...

I'm so lonely >_<

 

[WorthlessSix]

There's a different kind of relationship with online friends. They're still your friends but not in the same respect as IRL friends. You can like to play games with them, but when it's all over, you don't usually have their facebook or their phone number. Online play has introduced a new kind of relationship we can have with people. It's just a REALLY casual friendship.

 

[Aura Guardian]

I've considered a few online friends as real ones. Some from this site too

 

[LeonLethality]

I like to think the friends I make on the escapist are real friends. I enjoy talking with them as much as I enjoy talking with my friends in real life.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

On one hand, yes--people are typing responses from beyond your screen (shocking, I know), and it is possible to get a general feel for how that person acts through text.

On the other hand, no--this interaction is all mediated, and therefore it isn't as visceral or as responsive as person to person contact, so your "online friends" are only your friends in a sense that your computer is your friend.

If someone is able to make sense of that, congrats. You now know how hard it is for me to communicate sometimes! Woo!

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Nope.

I don't know any of you, but it is nice to pass ideas and thoughts back and forth.

*raises glass to my Escapist acquaintances*

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

No, I don't think so. A lot of the time you don't even know what Internet friends look like. That, to me, is not a real friend.

 

[awsome117]

Wait... you can have friends outside of the internet!? When did this happen?