Comments on: Titles Escape Me, Friends Don’t

By: Hadass Eviatar

Hadass Eviatar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:19:11 +0000

I am more comfortable than either of you, it would appear, in calling people I’ve only met virtually my friends. What matters is whether we can connect on an emotional level. When my friend Deven hurt his knee and missed out on a week of teaching, I felt sorry for him and wanted to help him deal with the transition back in. Sounds like friendship to me. There are a few people I exchange private messages with about our lives, and that’s friendship, too, as far as I am concerned.

And yes, I would definitely be hugging quite a few people I’ve met through Twitter. But if they only want to shake hands, that’s OK, too. I’ll admit I’ve not followed either of you (Steve or Paul) closely enough for a hug (yet). But you never know ;-).

By: Steve J. Moore

Steve J. Moore — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:39:40 +0000

Haha, you can kiss my dog if you want Paul. She’s friendly.

By: Paul Bogush

Paul Bogush — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:14:09 +0000

Earlier this morning I read someone’s blog in which they said “My friend Paul Bogush…” It caught me by surprise. I never considered that person my “friend.” But after reflecting I thought to myself that I have talked and shared many things with him, the same things I would have with any other friend. If he was standing next to me and someone walked up to us I would introduce him as “my friend.” The reality is that many people can become friends online and share a “virtual beer.” I think it takes some flexibility on the part of both parties to share emotions, and deep thoughts, and glimpses into their personal life, not just links and “re-tweets.” Some simply aren’t comfortable doing that virtually. Online communities are shifting our definition of friendship. I would have to say that there are now more people that I would totally trust with everything that I know who are online friends, than face-to-face friends. There must be some diagram of level of online friendship available…
Level one-re-tweet
Level two-share links
Level three-respond to comment/tweet
Level four-engage in online dialogue
Level five-share and engage in personal life stuff
Level six-finally comfortable enough to make fun of someone’s dog(sorry readers, private joke)
Level seven-do all the above

What freaked me out last year is that I went to a conference and people I had only known online came up and hugged me and gave me a kiss(the greeting kind!). I think at that moment I realized that online friends are just as real as face-to face friends.

PS–if I meet you face-to-face you won’t have to worry about me kissing you, a handshake will do.