Can Online Friendships Feel as Close as Real-Life Ones?

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The discussion centers around the friendships formed within the Physics Forums (PF) community, highlighting the deep connections members feel despite often never having met in person. Participants share their experiences of forming close bonds with fellow members, mentioning specific individuals who have become significant friends, even if only online. There’s a sense of camaraderie, with many expressing gratitude for the support and knowledge shared among members. Some have met in person, while others feel a strong connection without physical meetings, emphasizing that online interactions can foster meaningful relationships. The conversation also touches on the idea of organizing real-life gatherings, such as the PF Aruba Conference, and the desire for more personal interactions. Overall, the thread reflects a warm, family-like atmosphere among PF members, showcasing the value of community in the digital age.
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Do you have "close" PF friends?

I have only met Astro in person, but have had nice times with his wife and kids. I'd like Chi to come up this way, but he has better mountains closer.

Other PF friends that I can't lose are Evo, Drizzle (Gad), Rhody, Danger, Zoobie, MIH, Pooh, and Mr. Borkowski. (probably many, many more, too, but I just can't list everybody.)
 
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I haven't been here long enough to make too many friends, although I do get along well enough with a good number of you guys. :-)

So, in terms of close friends, there's Redsummers, although he haven't actually met. (yet)
 


I have a PF friend that is as close to me as Tsu is close to Ivan :smile:
 


Borek has been friendly to me in a material way. He very generously helped me to obtain copies of genealogical records from the Polish State Archives.
 


I don't know anybody. I somehow, somewhere, something ended up here because I Googled a question. Somehow I got stuck. :rolleyes:

... "Welcome to the Hotel California" ... Nananana... Nananana...
 


My wife has a decorated pasteboard box that she keeps all her little keepsakes in ( I have to keep the box in our Mosler fire-proof-safe). The first keepsake was a hand-drawn and hand-painted Valentine's card in which I asked her to marry me. There have been others over the years, but one of her "latest and greatest" was Borek's card and envelope with the the less-than-specific address. My wife loved it! That went right into the "keeper" box in the safe. Even nicer is that our niece is our rural mail carrier, and anything with our last name on it would have come here. "East of the Kennebec" couldn't have fazed her.
 


Two summers ago, my wife, daughter and I had a nice visit with Astronuc and his wife and son.

Years before I joined PF, I interacted with a couple of PF members. For 18 months, I lived in the same town as a PF member, and we used to discuss regularly theoretical physics. For several years, I used to drink beer and shoot pool with another PF member.
 


turbo said:
I have only met Astro in person, but have had nice times with his wife and kids. I'd like Chi to come up this way, but he has better mountains closer.

Other PF friends that I can't lose are Evo, Drizzle (Gad), Rhody, Danger, Zoobie, MIH, Pooh, and Mr. Borkowski. (probably many, many more, too, but I just can't list everybody.)
Nice Turbo,

I think PF IMHO represents to me what the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and insight should be on the internet. It is a rare jewel in a sea of mediocrity, and to that end the people who make it the way it is. I am glad you consider me a friend, as I do many others on your list.

Rhody... :smile:
 


I visited with Danger on a trip out to Calgary.
 
  • #10


I thought everyone gets together at the PF Aruba Conference each year? :confused:
 
  • #11


I didn't see my name anywhere here. I has a sad now. :(
 
  • #12


Char. Limit said:
I didn't see my name anywhere here. I has a sad now. :(

You're a good friend, char! :smile:
 
  • #13


Pengwuino said:
I thought everyone gets together at the PF Aruba Conference each year? :confused:
Virtual conferences don't count Peng, unless of course we really do conference with something Skype like, hehe. It is just like having a virtual girlfriend, great for the imagination but not much else. I for one would like to have a "real" get together someday.

Rhody...
 
  • #14


Char. Limit said:
I didn't see my name anywhere here. I has a sad now. :(
Group hug for the big cheese...

Rhody...
 
  • #15


Char. Limit said:
I didn't see my name anywhere here. I has a sad now. :(
I :!) you Char!

I've met many people in person that I first met online, but no one from PF. The people I met from the internet turned out to be the same in person as they were online, so it was like meeting up with an old friend. I feel so close to some members here that I feel that we've already met. Having met in person just isn't necessary for me to form an attachment.

I treasure the friends I've made on PF. When we chat, it's like there is no distance between us. You guys live in my computer monitor, so you're never far. :-p

So, if any of you fail to post without prior notice...I WILL BAN YOU, because *I care*. o:)
 
  • #16


Watch out! I got kicked out of chat over and over and over again on Sunday because "some people" expected that I would be there and I was a bit busy.
 
  • #17


turbo said:
Watch out! I got kicked out of chat over and over and over again on Sunday because "some people" expected that I would be there and I was a bit busy.
Being kicked from chat because you weren't there, now that is funny...

Rhody... :-p
 
  • #18


rhody said:
Being kicked from chat because you weren't there, now that is funny...

Rhody... :-p
You had to be there. It was a bit absurd, but the tormentors took delight in it.
 
  • #19


turbo said:
Watch out! I got kicked out of chat over and over and over again on Sunday because "some people" expected that I would be there and I was a bit busy.
Between your mother in law, father, your health, and accidents (angry woodchuck knocks a cord of wood on you), you must pop into chat to say you're too busy to chat so we don't worry!
 
  • #20


Evo said:
Between your mother in law, father, your health, and accidents (angry woodchuck knocks a cord of wood on you), you must pop into chat to say you're too busy to chat so we don't worry!
My biggest danger is Duke. He will run at me full-tilt and collide at full speed. He thinks it's fun.

My health issues are chronic and long-term, and will not resolve. If my father succumbs (fast, I hope) I will be glad for him to have avoided suffering. I have lots of cash and bonds to hand out to siblings (he was an inveterate saver) and cash to pay for his "final" expenses.
 
  • #21


turbo said:
If my father succumbs (fast, I hope) I will be glad for him to have avoided suffering.

Did I miss something? :(
 
  • #22


Borek said:
Did I miss something? :(
Nope. Dad's in good health, though he has arthritic knees (like me) and doesn't get out to walk like he used to. I call him every couple of days to check in. He lives over 15 miles away, so we don't drive back and forth and check in, just to say "Hi".

If I call and tell him that we have some left-over soup or casserole that he could take home, he'll be here in 20 minutes or less. Widower-cooking can't compare. He's 86 years old now, but still could put in a better day's work than a lot of people half his age.
 
  • #23


turbo said:
Nope. Dad's in good health

Glad to hear that :biggrin:
 
  • #24


micromass said:
You're a good friend, char! :smile:

rhody said:
Group hug for the big cheese...

Rhody...

Evo said:
I :!) you Char!

I've met many people in person that I first met online, but no one from PF. The people I met from the internet turned out to be the same in person as they were online, so it was like meeting up with an old friend. I feel so close to some members here that I feel that we've already met. Having met in person just isn't necessary for me to form an attachment.

I treasure the friends I've made on PF. When we chat, it's like there is no distance between us. You guys live in my computer monitor, so you're never far. :-p

So, if any of you fail to post without prior notice...I WILL BAN YOU, because *I care*. o:)

I has a happy now. Yay for PF family!
 
  • #25


Looks like everyone's avoiding to give names.

To be honest, I never thought I'd become a 'regular' PF member, sure I do have lots of friends who I care for, I won't list them here [:biggrin:]. But I have to say, Turbo was my first PF buddy, and micro is the last [so far :smile:] on my PF 'close' friends.

PS. Why don't you ask your wife to join PF, Turbo? And be the third PF couple here on PF. As far as I know there're Ivan+Tsu and Borek+Marzena.
Evo said:
I treasure the friends I've made on PF. When we chat, it's like there is no distance between us. You guys live in my computer monitor, so you're never far. :-p

Haha, True :)

Char. Limit said:
I has a happy now. Yay for PF family!

Sure, PFers are my second family :)
 
  • #26


Gad said:
Looks like everyone's avoiding to give names.

I don't want to give out names, because I might forget somebody. I don't want to hurt a person by forgetting them.
But you are certainly on my friends list drizzle! :smile:
 
  • #27


micromass said:
I don't want to give out names, because I might forget somebody. I don't want to hurt a person by forgetting them.
But you are certainly on my friends list drizzle! :smile:

I know. :wink:
 
  • #28


Gad said:
Looks like everyone's avoiding to give names.

To be honest, I never thought I'd become a 'regular' PF member, sure I do have lots of friends who I care for, I won't list them here [:biggrin:]. But I have to say, Turbo was my first PF buddy, and micro is the last [so far :smile:] on my PF 'close' friends.

PS. Why don't you ask your wife to join PF, Turbo? And be the third PF couple here on PF. As far as I know there're Ivan+Tsu and Borek+Marzena.




Haha, True :)



Sure, PFers are my second family :)
My wife is not a computer user. She was thrilled to have Astro and his family visit us, but that was all second hand to her,
 
  • #29


BTW, Gad, my real name is Harley. When I picked out that leather-covered recliner, and I gave my real name to the sales-lady, she grabbed my hand and said "why didn't you keep that?"
 
  • #30


Gad said:
PS. Why don't you ask your wife to join PF, Turbo? And be the third PF couple here on PF. As far as I know there're Ivan+Tsu and Borek+Marzena.

My wife has two degrees in physics and a degree in engineering, but she won't join. She thinks of Physics Forums as my mistress.
 
  • #31


turbo said:
BTW, Gad, my real name is Harley. When I picked out that leather-covered recliner, and I gave my real name to the sales-lady, she grabbed my hand and said "why didn't you keep that?"
Harley! Nice name :)

George Jones said:
My wife has two degrees in physics and a degree in engineering, but she won't join. She thinks of Physics Forums as my mistress.

Obviously, you didn't tell her about the PF sisterhood! :biggrin:
 
  • #32


Gad said:
Harley! Nice name :)
My mother was going to name me Peter James, but in a fit of unreason, she named me after my father.
 
  • #33


haven't been here for longer enough for that.
Maybe sometime in the future, hopefully.
 
  • #34


Your father has the same name, Turbo? This is rare over here, a few people might name a child after his father, only if the father passed away, same for girls. But again not common.
 
  • #35


We don't name a girl after her father while the father is still alive either. Lest the angel of death come for the elder and mistakingly take the younger.
 
  • #36


I really didn't look into it, Jimmy. I recall one of my Egyptian teachers has a name #### Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali then some other name. :bugeye:

I thought it's easier to just say her name then Ali5. :biggrin:
 
  • #37


Oxenfree?
 
  • #38


:smile:
 
  • #39


Major Major Major Major?
 
  • #40


Jimmy Snyder said:
Borek has been friendly to me in a material way. He very generously helped me to obtain copies of genealogical records from the Polish State Archives.

Borek has been helpful to me too with genealogy. Thank you Borek.
 
  • #41


I don't really know anyone here :shy:
I just try and help people over in homework and coursework

I'd like to be everyone's friend though!
 
  • #42


I'm another newby who missed the wonderful camaraderie I had as an undergrad in the physics study lounge in college and decided to seek it out on the internet.

I've met some really wonderful people on here in the few months I've been on, got some great recipes, learned more about eggplant than I really needed to know, helped with homework until I ran out of yellow legal pads which I've finally replenished, and had a lot of fun in the relationship section and random thoughts.

My fish is the whale shark because a baby whale shark thought my boat was its mom and it laid its head on my dive platform and cosied up to the boat for quite a while. it was very cute in a very very large sort of way but I have no idea why I was asked for "my fish".

I posted a long poem for Borek to help with weird English but don't know if he saw it.

In all my other forums I personally know many of the members but so far on here I haven't run across any I know. I'm game for that Aruba meeting so I can see the goats in the dividivi trees one more time.
 
  • #43


netgypsy said:
learned more about eggplant than I really needed to know,
I actually have more information on eggplants...

My fish is the whale shark because a baby whale shark thought my boat was its mom and it laid its head on my dive platform and cosied up to the boat for quite a while. it was very cute in a very very large sort of way but I have no idea why I was asked for "my fish".
You didn't get fish whacked?
 
  • #44


Evo said:
I actually have more information on eggplants...

You didn't get fish whacked?

Please share the eggplant info

Nope?

Speaking of naming, I know many girls who have been named after their fathers. My grandmother's name was Williamena after her father William, my next door neighbor's daughter was named Clintandra after father, Clint, and mother, Sandra. A female friend was named Michael after her father.
 
  • #45


Some of the most genuine people I've ever met are members of this forum. I'd like to think I've made a few friends here, even if it hasn't been explicitly stated or made official by any means.
 
  • #46


netgypsy said:
Please share the eggplant info.

My wife makes baingan aloo.
 
  • #47


netgypsy said:
Nope?

THWACK!

You are now officially initiated into Physics Forums.
 
  • #48


genericusrnme said:
I don't really know anyone here :shy:
I just try and help people over in homework and coursework

I'd like to be everyone's friend though!


wukunlin said:
haven't been here for longer enough for that.
Maybe sometime in the future, hopefully.

Quantum Physics and Optoelectronics? :!)

Sounds like friends material to me.
 
  • #49


dlgoff said:
Quantum Physics and Optoelectronics? :!)

Sounds like friends material to me.
Without motorcycle mechanics? We need more "stuff". Some sciences are "interesting", but lack substance.
 
  • #50


turbo said:
Without motorcycle mechanics? We need more "stuff". Some sciences are "interesting", but lack substance.
Well. Anyone who can consume Ghost Peppers without blinking has to be a friend of mine; motorcycles or not. :biggrin:
 

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