V is for… Virtual Friend = Real Friend?
Virtual friends are those people whom you have met online. Many people believe that virtual friends are not real friends. And that’s because you have not met in real life so you cannot be truly connected to be categorized as real friends. I would have agreed to the above some time ago but not anymore.
Given the times that we live in, we are no longer surrounded by family, extended family and friends.
But with technology in our hands, we have built a big network of online friends. These could be through our Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Online Communities… These are our virtual friends with whom we connect more frequently and more deeply.
Though, we may not have met them in person but we feel more closer and connected with each other than some of our real life friendships. Their messages of support and encouragement, affection and smiles, truly warms our hearts.
It does not matter whether our friend is sitting next to us or is thousands of miles away. Friendship is all about connecting with someone with whom we can share our life, thoughts, feelings, frustrations, insecurities…
Through our words and pictures we get to know more about each other. Of course, like any other relationship, we need to build and put in efforts, stay connected and have commitment in our virtual friendship too.
Whatever interactions I have had with virtual friends in real life reiterates one thing for me that I am glad that our paths crossed. I cherish my virtual friends and would love to meet them in real life too.
April 24, 2013 7:38 pm|
Obviously, I completely agree! I’m so happy to have met each and every one of you online! 🙂
April 26, 2013 7:01 am|
The feeling is mutual 🙂
April 24, 2013 7:43 pm|
I agree….I feel so good to connect with my blogging friends virtually. And yes, I would love to meet them in person…so when I can visit Jaipur??? 😛
My ‘V’ post also talks about the virtual world 🙂
April 26, 2013 7:02 am|
Anytime, Nibedita! Would love to meet you! 🙂
April 24, 2013 7:53 pm|
I totally believe so. They can be real friends and awfully good at that too 🙂 If we ever get to meet them, that would be even better!
April 26, 2013 7:02 am|
I know, that would be so cool… to see and meet the faces behind the words and blogs!
April 24, 2013 8:00 pm|
I have lots of online friends that I consider real friends – I just haven’t met them face to face yet.
April 26, 2013 7:03 am|
May you get to meet some of them sometime! 🙂
April 24, 2013 8:35 pm|
This was a topic.I had in mind too. N u bet I think that virtual friends are ad close as reall friends iff not more
April 26, 2013 7:03 am|
True!
December 30, 2019 5:48 pm|
Yes . It is true vertual friends may b good and make same importance as real friends if we know them better or meet them face to face.
April 25, 2013 1:28 am|
Yeah, I have met a lot of people online and some are good friends too. I still like to meet them and be with them. That’s more fun to hang out and enjoy other things like an ice-cream, a double date, painting toe nails, going to the spa together, going to the beach….can’t do all that online…so. Guess, I am a bit old fashioned, then.
🙂
Of course with the virtual friends you can connect at an intellectual level, still I like the feel of a touch of hand when they solace, gimme a hug when I need one, show me affirmation with their eyes when I need one….that all matters to me too much.
April 26, 2013 7:08 am|
That’s absolutely correct K, you need real friends in real life, the people you can see, meet, share, hangout to have a coffee… but the point here is that would you take your online friendship to the next level… ie meet them sometime, are they as good as your real friends?
April 25, 2013 1:56 am|
I agree completely, Shilpa. Until some time ago, I didn’t have a single virtual friend. But now thanks to the A to Z challenge, I know all of you, and I am delighted to count you guys among my virtual friends. I hope we can meet someday.
April 26, 2013 7:29 am|
Wow! That’s another take-away of this AtoZ Challenege! Glad to meet you here 🙂
April 25, 2013 2:04 am|
Yes they can be real friends too, but sometimes when you meet them face to face, some things become clearer.
April 26, 2013 7:32 am|
True and with some, it never feels like you are meeting for the first time!
April 25, 2013 3:14 am|
Yep u can have virtual friends and still feel “connected”. All u need is internet 😛 kidding
PhenoMenon
http://capturedalive.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/vishu-a-new-year-atozchallenge/
April 26, 2013 7:32 am|
LOL 😀
April 25, 2013 3:14 am|
Certainly can be !
I have found my soul mate online… in this virtual world… I met her and we are friends for life… !
Friends are friends… its just that this is a new medium !
Yes we might not meet them that often… but that ok if you ask me !
April 26, 2013 7:33 am|
Wow! How cool is that!!
Yeah, we may not meet OFs often but we are connected!
April 25, 2013 4:01 am|
Nice post! Friendship really isn’t about the distance. I too have some virtual friends whom I’ve never met but whom I feel I connect to better than some of the people who are physically close to me. Technology really has changed the landscape a lot.
Deecoded
April 26, 2013 7:34 am|
Yes, times have changed and we have evolved a lot! 😀
April 25, 2013 4:06 am|
Totally believe in it. I first met my husband in the virtual world too. Have made some wonderful virtual friends and have loved meeting up with some of them in real life as well. Look forward to meeting you soon too :).
April 26, 2013 7:48 am|
I have met only one blogger till date, though I interact with a few over the phone and it has been a wonderful experience. Never felt that we are meeting or talking for the first time. Would love to meet you soon too! 🙂
April 25, 2013 4:21 am|
I am choosy and picky. There are some real friends whom i meet daily and still can’t connect And there are a few virtual friends with whom i have instant connect. Though i can’t get close with all virtual friends. There are a few like you whom i would like to meet:)
April 26, 2013 8:06 am|
Of course, connecting with all online friends is just not possible, just as we cant connect with all people around us! I would love to meet you too, Asha 🙂
April 25, 2013 4:45 am|
We are already at V..wow. 🙂 This month was fast.
April 26, 2013 8:06 am|
Yes and we are at W today 😀
April 25, 2013 4:51 am|
I didn’t believe on virtual friendship earlier. In my facebook too all my friends are those whom I know. But once I entered the Blogosphere, my whole outlook changed. Reading posts we can actually know a lot about the person who writes them. Unlike persons whom we meet in real life and come to know only about their physical appearance and public behavior, through blogs we get to know the minds of the individuals. So I feel more connected with them. And now I strongly believe in virtual friendship esp. blog friendships.
April 26, 2013 8:07 am|
I cherish my blog friendships too 🙂
April 25, 2013 4:54 am|
Yes it is correct. Some of our virtual friends are close to each other. We feel that we have met them. I can relate to some of them more than real life friends.I can trust some of my online friends and would like to meet them one day.I do hope that I will meet you some day.
April 26, 2013 8:08 am|
I am keen to meet you too, Ma’am 🙂
April 25, 2013 5:12 am|
Oh yes, I would love to take my virtual friendships to the next level. I would love to meet you…
April 26, 2013 8:09 am|
Me tooooo! 🙂
April 25, 2013 5:15 am|
Completely agree and I too hope I will meet you all someday.
April 26, 2013 8:09 am|
God willing… 🙂
April 25, 2013 5:17 am|
I have some fantastic virtual friends 😛 And I connect so well to them !
April 26, 2013 8:09 am|
Touch wood! 🙂
April 25, 2013 5:48 am|
thanks to blogging..have a whole bunch of virtual friends….and it’s a fantastic feeling!!
April 26, 2013 8:10 am|
I can relate to this LP 🙂
April 25, 2013 6:10 am|
I think the lines between virtual and friends and ‘real’ friends is getting blurred. I have s many virtual friends who when I meet offline too seem more ‘real’ to me than my real, real friends! 😉
April 26, 2013 8:11 am|
Well said, Corinne! The lines are blurring and it is a great thing to happen! 🙂
April 25, 2013 6:14 am|
Agreeing 100%! Virtual friends can be real friends too, but I miss all those hanging outs, and coffee dates and all.
April 26, 2013 8:11 am|
Yeah, the frequent coffee dates et al are missed with OFs.
April 25, 2013 6:35 am|
Indeed there are online friends whom i have met in real life and we share a good friendship and there are others I’d love to meet. would love to meet you too someday, if I happen to be in rajasthan or you come to Delhi, what say???
April 26, 2013 8:12 am|
Definitely! That’s a promise, Priyaa! 🙂
April 25, 2013 6:42 am|
Yes, online friends can be real friends, but with two caveats. Only if both parties do not wear masks online. And only if you do not have wild expectations. Jose
April 26, 2013 8:21 am|
You are bang on José . One’s online identity can be real-to-life, imaginary, or hidden. And if the last 2 are true, it defeats the whole purpose!
April 25, 2013 6:48 am|
You are right Shilpa, now we have so many friends from all over the world. Gone are the days, when we used to have penfriends,and would wait for their replies, but now it is instant like the instant food we get. It is really wonderful to stay connected with people, and communication has also become very short, but still it is worth.
I have had the opportunity of meeting a dear blogger, who came and spent one night with me, during her visit to Hyderabad and Bangalore all the way from Norway.
It felt so good to chat the whole night away, and I felt so close to her as if I had known her for years.
Do make it a point to inform me if you ever come to Bangalore, it would be nice to meet you.
Cheers to Virtual Friends!
April 26, 2013 8:50 am|
True, we are living in the tech age where everything is fast paced. If we can relate to our OFs, then why not take it to the next level.
I met Kadambari, a blogger and it never felt that we were meeting for the first time! So, I can relate to your experience with your Norway friend! Definitely… would love to meet you! 🙂
April 25, 2013 7:01 am|
I am more comfortable with virtual friends some times but am always hesitant if I have to meet them in real 🙂 Due to present day conditions I too made many virtual friends some times more near and dear than REAL friends
April 26, 2013 8:53 am|
I know the initial hitch is there, like meeting anybody for the first time, but I guess, that feeling vanishes soon! 🙂
April 25, 2013 7:39 am|
I value virtual friends more than real friends. That’s one reason why I don’t prefer meeting virtual friends. I am afraid they’ll become like the real-life ones!!
Destination Infinity
April 26, 2013 8:54 am|
LOL at the last line 😀
April 25, 2013 9:16 am|
Virtual or not, friends are friends and friendships are to be cherished. I love each and every friend of mine and virtual is just a more comfortable way to connect with people I guess.
April 26, 2013 8:54 am|
That’s cool 🙂
April 25, 2013 10:13 am|
Hmmm I have my reservations in this. I feel that in virtual world we show our best side to the world. I am therefore (based on certain experiences) a little hesitant in taking the virtual frenship to another level…
April 26, 2013 8:55 am|
Oh, you have had not so good experiences at that! That’s understandable, then! 🙂
April 25, 2013 10:59 am|
I value friends and friendships, they mean a lot to me, I don’t mind meeting them, I have learnt so much from virtual friends, and I feel grateful towards them
April 26, 2013 8:56 am|
That’s such a wonderful thought, G 🙂
April 25, 2013 11:23 am|
I agree virtual friends can be real friends too. It depends whom you really connect well with. With a little background check, you can be real friends. I’m happy I could connect with many through blogging. I’m attending the B’lore blogger’s meet and hoping to see familiar faces behind the blogs 🙂
April 26, 2013 8:57 am|
Have a great time at the Blogger Meet and then do let us know your experience of meeting Virtual friends in real life… 🙂
April 25, 2013 12:15 pm|
would definitely love to take our virtual friendship to the next level shilpa – do drop in to Trichy !
April 26, 2013 8:57 am|
And you are welcome to our home in Jaipur, Priya 🙂
April 25, 2013 12:27 pm|
I agree so much with this post. I have met too many skeptics and I simply roll my eyes at their skepticism! 😛 My post of today is proof to yours 🙂
April 26, 2013 8:59 am|
Oh yes, I saw that! And isn’t that fabulous! 🙂
April 25, 2013 12:30 pm|
very true..i have met friends online who have become so close to me…..
http://www.myunfinishedlife.com/
April 26, 2013 9:00 am|
And that is something to cherish! 🙂
April 25, 2013 12:30 pm|
I totally agree with it. I have met many great people on line, many are those I view as real friends. Besides, before the internet, I had pen pals that I used to write letters to on a regular basis. I never met them but I also considered them as friends.
April 26, 2013 9:01 am|
Even, I had 2 pen pals as a kid and it was wonderful connecting with them. I have searched for them on Facebook but couldn’t find them!
April 25, 2013 1:08 pm|
I will say AMEN to this one. The great thing about virtual friends, you can always log off 😛
April 26, 2013 9:02 am|
LOL GB… I like that!! 😀
April 25, 2013 1:22 pm|
I agree to this. I work online and have never met my colleagues face to face but consider them friends. Will hopefully be meeting some of them later this year.
April 26, 2013 9:02 am|
Amen to that 🙂
April 25, 2013 4:29 pm|
I am more in tune with my virtual friends than real ones.
April 26, 2013 9:02 am|
Awesome 🙂
April 25, 2013 6:27 pm|
Now with age, I think I am a bit matured in knowing my virtual friends better. Sometimes, you are lucky to have met and found true virtual friends while sometimes, they turn out to be jerks.
April 26, 2013 9:03 am|
Aah! True, the jerks cannot be ruled out… 😀
April 25, 2013 6:30 pm|
Yes agree with LAta out here 🙂
April 26, 2013 9:03 am|
Hmmm…
April 25, 2013 6:33 pm|
I honestly do not know what I’d do without my virtual friends! they are the best!
Volleyball
April 26, 2013 9:04 am|
Touch wood! 🙂
April 25, 2013 7:11 pm|
I have been fortunate to be able to form strong bonds with my virtual friends 🙂
April 26, 2013 9:05 am|
Lucky you! 🙂
April 26, 2013 1:09 am|
friendship knows no boundaries. In both the real and virtual world the chances of finding treasured friends and fair-weather ones is the same if you ask me.
April 26, 2013 9:05 am|
Agree completely! 🙂
May 1, 2013 6:39 am|
I have some amazing friends through blogs. As bloggers,we are bound by one passion and that is always a very good starting point for a great friendship! 🙂
May 1, 2013 10:53 am|
Agree completely with this… it is this common passion that binds us…
May 1, 2013 3:15 pm|
For me it was a pleasure meeting Rachana,Bindu,Neha and Mann.
I am looking forward to meet you too.
May 2, 2013 9:36 am|
This comment has been removed by the author.
May 24, 2013 2:04 pm|
Hi Shilpa, I totally agree, virtual friends are like real friends. I have met in person many of those “virtual friends” and almost never been disappointed as what we project online via pictures and words are revealing more than people think. Unless you are a psychopath, it is very difficult to be “fake” on the long run. I have also worked with many clients from all over the world via Skype and emails and it is as effective as in person coaching.
May 24, 2013 2:04 pm|
Hi Shilpa, I totally agree, virtual friends are like real friends. I have met in person many of those “virtual friends” and almost never been disappointed as what we project online via pictures and words are revealing more than people think. Unless you are a psychopath, it is very difficult to be “fake” on the long run. I have also worked with many clients from all over the world via Skype and emails and it is as effective as in person coaching.