The first rule of the internet:

[XemaSab]

It's okay to be buddies with folks on the internet.

But considering folks on the internet friends? Lovers? Homies? Bros? BFFs?

No.

Don't do it.

Any emotional involvement beyond the most topical variety is a mistake.

That is all.

[Swede]

1. I love you.

There,I said it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. you are truly my best friend FOREVER

Bro :D

[flvegan]

3. I disagree, and there are PGP keys out there that

would testify (if they could) that I have more of an emotional involvement than others, maybe.

I've also got a number of online clients, many of whom are DUers, with whom I'm emotionally involved in their weight loss/health issues.

[Richard Steele]

4. My Ex had the most wonderful term for it.

She referred to everyone I knew via the Internet
as my "imaginary friends", just as a way of reminding me
of all the things you're saying.

That's a brilliantly quirky way to sum up
the concept you're talking about, IMHO.

[Richardo]

21. Excellent

:D :thumbsup:

[LostinVA]

35. But I don't consider Shakespeare, MrsG, etal "imaginary" friends

They are my REAL friends.

[Lil Missy]

5. Amen

Now, are we still lovers? Or have you cheated on me already?

[Tom Kitten]

6. I was that close to flying across the continent to meet my internet love...

I was new to the internet then, way back in ought one... In order to meet the Atlantic City girlfriend of my (turned out to be) dreams...Talked to her, her Mom, Dad, on the phone... Thank goodness THAT didn't happen! It was so much fun, though! We had such great emails, but I deleted them forever after she hung up on me... She was into sharks, I shoulda kept the sandshark's jaws and teeth I sent her...Try finding those at at a store sometime!

But bleagh! Earlier I also gave another girl I loved a guitar (she was depressed and really wanted a guitar) plus a poster from a 10,000 Maniacs tour appearance that I went and had autographed by all the band members...she kept the loot but told me she hated pressure and cut me off. Kept the loot, though...

I hate emotional relationships, I always get screwed!

[denbot]

7. Do you need anything co-signed.

All I need is your word and a hearty handshake.

[mwooldri]

8. Oops, I broke that rule big time then.

I married her back in 1999. Still married. Very happily so.

Mark.

[XemaSab]

9. I'd say the number of people who marry folks they meet on the internets is a very small percent

The number of people who get sucked up into bullshit is approaching 100%.

[denbot]

10. BTW, I met Ali on the internet.

[TZ]

13. My sister met her husband on the internet

The amount of people that are getting married after meeting on the net is actually growing quite a bit.

[LostinVA]

15. Me too!

[Bertha Venation]

19. Me, too. Met her in 1999. Still together. Also very happy.

:hi:

Hi, XemaSab :)

[petronius]

11. Shoot, and I just put you in my will

Guess I'll go change it back to leaving everything to the Saskatchewan Spittoon Museum, after all...

[NJmaverick]

12. Probably a very good rule to follow

[LostinVA]

14. I hope Haruka doesn't see this OP

[LostinVA]

16. Shakespeare and I are internet BFFs, and MrsG is in love with Haruka

[Shakespeare]

22. Yes, we are!!

:loveya:

I've made many friends over the years on the internet who've ended up being very close in-real-life friends (one of my very best friends I met 14 years ago in a writers' group; we visit each other every 1-2 years).

AND my current live-in SO and epic love of my life I met on the internet, too. We were email buddies for 6+ years before things turned romantic and we finally met. If you're smart, and careful, it can be a fantastic way to meet people.

[LostinVA]

24. If we live by each other, we'd probably be good friend in person, too

I met Haruka online, and we're friends "IRL" with several other DUers, toowatch out for Midlo if you go to Maggiano's with her!).

You know more about me, and care more about me on a daily basis, than my own sister does.

[Shakespeare]

27. Definitely.

If you click with someone on an intellectual and emotional basis, it doesn't really matter if it's online or in person. I've never had a problem with online friendships translating easily to in-person friendships.

Y'all HAVE TO come visit soon. And us with you. :pals:

[LostinVA]

31. If the money situation is solid in a few months, we have to!

I've never been to SoCal, and I want to see if my Dad is right about LA (he goes there on business alot, and thinks it sucks).

Haruka and the SO can bond over their libertarian views on guns and the death penalty.

[Shakespeare]

32. HAHAHA

Yeah, I think those two will get along famously (he's anti-death penalty, though, so don't tell her that part).

My dad used to say the same thing about LA, but it was only because he'd been to the sucky part of the city. When they FINALLY visited me out here last year, they were all "Oh! It's really pretty where you live!" Duh. Palm tress. Mountains. Teh lovely.

[LostinVA]

33. I don't want to get run over by Britney

:scared:

[Shakespeare]

34. She and Paris both have drivers now.

So it's pretty safe. Lindsay Lohan's the only one you really have to look out for, but she's spending most of her time in NYC these days.

[LostinVA]

26. I know, right?

hehehe

[Shakespeare]

28. !!

:spray:

[Orrex]

36. Nice

:rofl:

[TZ]

17. And if they are people you know in real life?

There are a number of people here that I know off line...And am proud to be friends with them.

[Orrex]

18. Will you quit stalking me already?

It's getting kinda creepy.

[LostinVA]

20. You are such a bad boy today

:rofl:

[oohoohbaby]

23. I agree wholeheartedly...And when I read people being so loving to one another on message boards

I wonder how they treat living, breathing, right-in-front-of-them peeps.

[LostinVA]

25. That was a quick pizza

[Shakespeare]

29. I think somebody needed a hug.

:hide:

[LostinVA]

30. hehehe

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

41. So I totally wasted my reply to them in GD, then?

Bastards.

[undeterred]

37. I know a couple of people who have met their SO

on the internet. Both through "match" sites.

[TheMightyFavog]

38. Don't forget rule 34:

There's a porn version of it, no exceptions.

[PVnRT]

39. This is why I don't have friends at all

I married my wife for the tax benefits only.

[tjwash]

40. The first rule of internet...nobody talks about internet

the second rule of internet...nobody talks about internet