Do you think online friends are as good as ones in real life? Why and why not?

Online friendships can be lots of fun. You can make strong connections with people that can feel as strong....even stronger than rl friendships. You can often confide safely in an online friend stiff you dont share in real life.. but....they are often short lived and it can be pretty tough if one party decides to ignore or ghost the other. If you only have a website or email for contact theres jackshit you can do if they dont answer you.

Depends.

Some may be good and loyal while some may not.

The truth is time reveals it all. Sometimes sooner and sometimes later.

But in my opinion, people online tend to be assholes because they think they can do anything and get away with it as they're behind a computer screen. They tend to manipulate more and use you for their sick needs. I'm a victim so I know how that feels.

My worst experience with an online friend was with a lady whom I met on EP and who introduced me to SW after EP closed. Nearly three years ago she suddenly stopped talking to me in the middle of a PM conversation (about classical music of all things) which she had initiated. No explanation, no replies to my messages or emails, nothing. She (or, I suppose, someone using her account) still appears on SW from time to time, though not as much as she used to, but ignores any contact from me.

Of course, real life friends can dump you too, but usually they have to say goodbye and you can find out what the problem was, one way or another. Online friends can just disappear if they want to. 🙁

I don't rate my friends, but in general real world friendships have more depth then online friendships

if they can't bail you out of jail at 3am, they aren't real friends

They can - but its a very different dynamic.

They're the only ones i got soooo. I believe they are the best kind. They have helped me through a lot. But much like myself they have things they must attend to in real life so need to take a time out when necessary

my online friends became my closest. although i don't think we would have made great friends irl as our interests are all so different. Life is weird like that.

yes if you have things in common and can chat easily. why not? Like if you play games on line together it can be fun

Online friends come and go much easier. I've had friends on here who've just disappeared one day... and I've done it too.

Real friends > Online friends

Although some have helped me they rarely stay in my circle for long.

you are right.. i dont see the difference

Online friends are valuable because you might be able to expose parts of yourself more than in real life, but there is so much missing in an online friendship. Many aspects of your life must be experienced in person to really know you and an online friendship cant go there unless they come into your real life. Also people only expose part of themselves online. Besides you need friends to attend your parties, give you a hug (emoji hugs dont count)

Depends on several factors

I think with online friends,I tend to tell them more about myself and over the years they become close 😊