Do you think people had more fun in their lives in the past than now?

and you never do end up finding them, and then they call you up the next day all pissy and say, "where were you?? I was looking for hours."

@crossproduct: for me its more easy than fun

@crossproduct: but because you didn't find them you found other friends. But either way it was real vs staring at a screen.

@abe182: my point,I wouldn't call this ctually "living"

@abe182: idk I find this just as real. I've been using the Internet since 1989 and was using it for socializing right from the start.

@Thelovelylover: Yeah, it isn't.
I can't even imagine what school is like with texting. Do you still pass notes? Do you verbally ask a girl out anymore?

@crossproduct: yeah well I would rather be with a friend in person for example that just on internet :/

@crossproduct: I find THIS real too. But it's different. Not better not worse.

@Thelovelylover: you probably don't have the kind of social anxiety problems I do

@crossproduct: well internet only makes social anxiety worse and creates it

@abe182: Of course I have IRL friends too but a lot of the time I just can't deal with people and this is a way for me to not go insane.

@Thelovelylover: no, it was just as bad when I was a teenager, actually it's better than it used to be

@crossproduct: oh trust me I get that. People annoy the crap out of me.
And I despise talking on cell phones. You can't hear yourself talk and everyone interrupts and it's just awkward. Irl or texting for me.

@abe182: I did resist carrying a cellphone for years, because I didn't want to be a slave to it, but eventually work forced me. I prefer texting, too, especially the lack of immediacy. It's okay if I reply in an hour, meanwhile I'm doing other stuff. I hardly ever make actual phone calls anymore.

I live out in the country, and the Internet is something of a lifeline to civilization. I don't live in New York where I can find any kind of person I like.