Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 8/7/84; site ucbvax.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!jwl From: jwl@ucbvax.ARPA (James Wilbur Lewis) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Meeting people on the nets Message-ID: <4275@ucbvax.ARPA> Date: Mon, 21-Jan-85 03:33:14 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.4275 Posted: Mon Jan 21 03:33:14 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 22-Jan-85 03:46:07 EST References: <1589@gondor.UUCP> Reply-To: jwl@ucbvax.UUCP (James Wilbur Lewis) Distribution: net Organization: University of California at Berkeley Lines: 39 Summary: Hi Scott... Since I suspect I might be one of the people you had in mind when you posted your article, I guess I'll take a shot at replying.... I think 'electronic' friendships are every bit as real as the face-to- face variety. Bitnet is an especially good medium for meeting people since it's possible to carry on conversations and get almost instant feedback (well, at least when CUNYVM isn't down....but I digress! :-) Think of it...at any instant, there are literally THOUSANDS of people logged on to Bitnet machines, and you are practically guaranteed that someone out there has something in common with you, and is willing to talk about it! I think such friendships can be quite satisfying, even if the participants never meet face to face. Sometimes all I want is someone to chat with when the system is loaded---and an electronic relationship lets you have that without all the hard work involved in keeping a 'real' (definitely the wrong word here, but I can't think of a better one offhand) relationship alive. But then, there are times when you want something more. It can be quite a shock to leave the comfort and safety of your terminal, and actually meet the Other Party 'for real'. I know it was for me....it took a while for me to convince myself that the person I was meeting was indeed the same sentient being I'd been talking to on the net for the last several months. It was kind of awkward at first, but I think we got over it soon enough....and I'm glad I got the chance to meet her. I guess what I'm trying to say is that electronic relationships are definitely *different*, but certainly for real. To anyone who's contemplating starting one, my advice is: GO FOR IT! Just be careful...you might end up with an SO who's >3000 miles away (sob!) :-) --Jim Lewis ...ucbvax!jwl (UUCP) jwl@ucbernie.ARPA HOSER@UCBCMSA ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ bitnet people take notice, I love to talk! :-)