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.
  • #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:
 
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  • #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:
 
  • #51


dlgoff said:
Well. Anyone who can consume Ghost Peppers without blinking has to be a friend of mine; motorcycles or not. :biggrin:
OK, there are reasonable exceptions. The first year that I had a garden here, my neighbor walked up here, and I picked a couple of ripe Savinas as we cruised the garden spot. I ate mine. He nibbled on the end of his, and took it back home with him.
 
  • #52


I have met Ivan Seeking & Tsu(They are practically neighbors), Janus, Om Cheeto, Astronuc, Gokul, and Kerrie.

Seems like Astonuc has met the most different members.
 
  • #53


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.)
The people that are listed in my profile as friends are there either because they asked me to be a PF friend (the distinct minority), or because I asked them due to some feeling on my part (after reading dozens, maybe hundreds, of their posts) that I had gotten to know and therefore trust them in some simpatico sense. You, turbo, are one such person.

I've never met anybody in person that I've conversed with online, though I still trade emails with people who I became acquainted with more than a decade ago via other websites like the old mp3.com, soundclick.com, usenet's sci.physics.com, and various science oriented yahoo and google groups that I no longer frequent.

It's interesting how one can get a certain measure and estimation of a person's personality, etc. from online discussions.

I fairly recently resumed contact, via the internet, with an old friend (an old roommate and close personal friend) who I hadn't seen in almost 40 years, and who a mutual friend and I thought had passed away.

But that's getting off-topic. Anyway, to reply to your OP, no I don't have any close PF friends, but there are at least a couple dozen PF contributors who I consider to be online friends (in the simpatico sense, ie., I think I know where they're coming from and generally like their posts) -- and I'll get around to asking some of those who aren't now on my PF friends list to be PF friends. If they accept, then great. If not, then they can go to hell. :smile:

Nice topic as usual, turbo, and interesting comments.
 
  • #54


netgypsy said:
My fish is the whale shark

Ouch.

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

I did.

netgypsy said:
Evo said:
You didn't get fish whacked?

Nope?

How could it be? But I see Evo already did the honors :biggrin:

Keep us posted about how you feel after you get back from ER.
 
  • #55


dlgoff said:
Quantum Physics and Optoelectronics? :!)

Sounds like friends material to me.

i thought matching making services is that \uparrow way.

Thanks though, I know who to hassle the hell out of when I need help with the QM details the laser diodes now :devil:
 
  • #56


I've met Tom Mattson, Cyrus, Moonbear, Ivan Seeking, Integral, Greg B., Gokul, ZapperZ, turbo and George Jones. I'd certainly like to meet more folks from PF.

I exchange messages at PF or other forums, and chat with others.

I was at a symposium and a student from MIT recognized me. As far as I know, he's not a member, but periodically browses the forum.
 
  • #57


Gad said:
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.
My niece named her daughter Harley, too. She is a precocious little thing. Then my (much) younger brother had a daughter and they named her Hayley because Harley was already taken.

Hayley
LilHooper.jpg


Harley
harleyrock.jpg
 
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  • #58


The only member I actually met was SpaceTiger. I watched him give a lecture after the defense of his PhD thesis. I spoke with Gokul43201 and with turbo on the phone. I just missed meeting Chi Meson when I visited his campsite in NH. He was away at the time.
 
  • #59


turbo said:
My niece named her daughter Harley, too. She is a precocious little thing. Then my (much) younger brother had a daughter and they named her Hayley because Harley was already taken.

Hayley
LilHooper.jpg


Harley
harleyrock.jpg

Oooohahahooo, cutie cutie cutie little girls :!):!)
 
  • #60


Gad said:
Oooohahahooo, cutie cutie cutie little girls :!):!)
They are both as cute as can be. Harley will sit quietly when visiting, but as soon as she is free to roam, she hunts for a rock. It doesn't have to be a pretty rock, or special in any way. She just wants a rock. My wife and I love rock-hounding, as as Harley gets older, we'll take her on field-trips. She could become a geologist.
 

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