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

  • Thread starter Thread starter turbo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Friends
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of friendships formed online within the Physics Forums community, exploring whether these relationships can feel as close as those developed in real life. Participants share personal experiences, anecdotes, and feelings about their connections with other members, highlighting both the emotional significance and the challenges of virtual friendships.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express that they have formed close friendships with other PF members, even without meeting in person.
  • One participant mentions having met several PF members in real life and describes those interactions as akin to meeting old friends.
  • Another participant shares a personal anecdote about receiving a keepsake from a PF member, indicating a meaningful connection.
  • Some express a desire for in-person gatherings, suggesting that virtual interactions may not fully replace the experience of meeting face-to-face.
  • There are mixed feelings about the significance of online friendships, with some stating that they feel close to members despite never having met, while others emphasize the importance of physical meetings.
  • Several participants mention specific individuals they consider friends, while others express feelings of exclusion when their names are not mentioned.
  • One participant humorously compares virtual friendships to having a "virtual girlfriend," suggesting limitations in the depth of online connections.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share positive sentiments about their online friendships, but there is no consensus on whether these relationships can truly match the depth of in-person connections. The discussion reflects a variety of perspectives on the value and limitations of online interactions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the nature of their friendships, with varying degrees of attachment and personal experiences influencing their views. The discussion includes references to specific individuals and personal anecdotes that may not be universally relatable.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring the dynamics of online friendships, particularly within niche communities, as well as those considering the emotional aspects of virtual versus real-life connections.

turbo
Insights Author
Gold Member
Messages
3,181
Reaction score
57
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.)
 
Physics news on Phys.org


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.
 

Similar threads

What Pop Culture Trivia Was Discussed in PF Quiz #1?
  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
8K