I Believe That Internet Friends Are Real

Corvo, I had an Internet friend about 9 years ago who would email me everyday. Besides his wife and kids, who were not close to him, I was one of his only links to the outside word, the man had agoraphobia, and hadn't left his house in twenty years. One day I notice he didn't email me. I got worried and shot him a quick email, asking if he was on. No reply... I am fairly certain he has died suddenly.

A few months passed, and I see a familiar email addy in my inbox. My heart speeds up a little.

The email simply states that my friend had a blood clot that lodged in a lung, killing him. It was his son emailing me, and I cried for quite a while for my friend.

So sometimes it's not that they wanted to be rude, sometimes things like death happen unexpectedly with neither of you getting a chance to tell the other good-bye.

I've been stabbed in the back by more "friends" offline than online.

I agree some internet friends are indeed real. :)

Depends how much/little somebody needs to provide to be classed as a 'friend'. I'm happy to interact with anybody and it's generally humour maybe some advice but above that I draw the line. No wiring cash as I've been asked previously :(
I have befriended some people on here but I generally react to what's posted and not who posted it.

Internet friends can be real, yes.

However, when you are blind to a person's voice, their physical behavior and expressions, and their general way of living, the value of what you know is exceeded by the value of what you don't.

Same here, Jonny.

They're real but rare. They can lie to you much easier and leave when they want, without a goodbye even.

internet friends are real and helped me

Corvo, thank you. My friend is in my heart always.

Sunfire, I know what you mean.

I'm so sorry to hear that :(

Agreed, Pone. :-)