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Are Online Relationships Real?

James

James

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or are they not as real as relationships that are harboured in reality, or are they not 'real' until the couple meets IRL?
how big of a difference does being physically able to touch and see each other make?
thoughts, opinions?(:
 
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I believe they're real.

Me and Kirk had an online relationship for a month before meeting officially. Obviously, it wasn't online for very long and we had every intention of meeting from Day One, but others aren't that lucky. Honestly, I think an online relationship is as real as you make it. Always talk about meeting and plan meeting, it makes it feel real. Don't shove away the idea because you don't think it's possible. Online relationships are harder for very young people, below 18, due to restrictions on you as an adult but I think if you're both at a reasonable age where the possibility of meeting is close, then I don't see why not.

I don't see the point in relationships online that last for 10+ years without a meet. Something is wrong there if you can't meet by then, good luck starting life you know?
 
If you actually have the ability to see each other irl with some sort of regularity(Lauren & Kirk for example) than, yes, it's real.

If you live in different countries with no means of seeing one another, than it's ridiculous.

The only time I've ever seen the above work, is with my cousin.
She met her boyfriend on an exchange to England, and they continued their relationship when she went back to Canada and he to Italy.
However, that being said, they also had the financial means to fly overseas every few months for several weeks at a time to be together, and eventually they both got work visas(or she got a work visa and IDK how it works in Europe to go to another place in Europe to work) but they moved in together in an apartment in France.
Eventually her work visa expired and they have both moved back here to Canada permanently.

But yeah. Only time I've seen it work, and it was because they had the means to actually see each other on some sort of regular basis.
 
I think it's real when the people chat online/on the phone for a while with intention to meet up as you're still engaging with them emotionally. I started a relationship online that was through a friend who knew them and that worked. But I think when it gets up to a certain point (a few months) without meeting when there is no real reason for them not to meet, then it can be questioned. Just look at Catfish where people think their online boyfriend/girlfriend is someone they're not.
 
They're real if you can meet offline at least occasionally.

I've tried relationships that are purely online and it was a "oh we'll meet someday when we finally can" sort of thing- definitely not for me. I need at least a little physical contact from someone (preferably a lot- I'm a big cuddler) to connect with them and stay connected on that level. Plus, I have trouble trusting people's personalities online- people are always at least a little different in person, whether it's good or bad.

My girlfriend and I will eventually have to move to partially long-distance and online, but we met in person, and we'll still see each other often enough to keep things going strong; situations like that are okay, in my eyes, though not optimal.
 
Loath as I am to admit it, I was in a purely online relationship for almost two years. It did not work out, but despite the fact we did not physically meet, that does not mean it was not real. Despite the problems which arose, we were in love, the feelings were real enough.
 
I believe they are real because they involve real feelings.
I think to make the relationship stronger, it's best to be able to meet sometime and continue to meet in the future.
Otherwise, it just falls apart from there.
 
Depending on the depth of them, sure. People are pretty honest or at the least uninhibited by certain variables which may make them act more like themselves online (social anxiety, as an example). People can live in the same house with each other and feel like strangers so I don't see why something started online can be any less significant.
 
Objectivelly, no relationships are real. But relative to the person, an online relationship might be real or not, because the definition of relationship itself varies from person to person. Some people value the more psychological/spiritual/emotional side as criteria to dictate if a connection between to people is or isin't a relationship, while others might value the physical and lifestyle, or both really. At the end of the day, "relationship" is just a label. It is what it is.
 
Well, I'm not particularly an expert on relationships.
I really like a girl, and she likes me back. But we live too far away. She in Brazil, and myself in the United Kingdom.

It would cost a fortune to go see her, but I'd love nothing more.

And odds are, I never will get to meet her.

But for me, it feels real enough. And when I get to talk to her, it really brightens my day.
So I like to think - yes, Online Relationships are real.

But the odds of them working out? Possible, but unlikely.

I'd love to have a situation with this girl, similar to what Kirk and Lauren have. But it'll probably be nothing more than wishful thinking for me.
 
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Shonna said:
If you actually have the ability to see each other irl with some sort of regularity(Lauren & Kirk for example) than, yes, it's real.

If you live in different countries with no means of seeing one another, than it's ridiculous.

The only time I've ever seen the above work, is with my cousin.
She met her boyfriend on an exchange to England, and they continued their relationship when she went back to Canada and he to Italy.
However, that being said, they also had the financial means to fly overseas every few months for several weeks at a time to be together, and eventually they both got work visas(or she got a work visa and IDK how it works in Europe to go to another place in Europe to work) but they moved in together in an apartment in France.
Eventually her work visa expired and they have both moved back here to Canada permanently.

But yeah. Only time I've seen it work, and it was because they had the means to actually see each other on some sort of regular basis.
Click to expand...

Just to nitpick, but if their first meeting was in person then it's not really an online relationship.

Also for pure clarification, there is no border between France and Italy, you can simply walk into the country and live and work there.

Anyway, I think they're real as long as you have the potential to meet in person.

However I would not do one.
 
I don't think they are I know they are.

Just because the relationship involves no REAL interaction doesn't change that it is some form of relationship. It may feel fake to some, but if you're one of these people then just avoid a LDR/online relationship.
 
I do but it really depends. I used to believe but after my experience , i lost all faith in online relationships.. It's risky as well...I think emotional connection is more important than physical ones at least for the relationship to last longer..
 
Have you ever had sweaty palms while playing video games? Have you ever felt your heartbeat increase? Have you ever held your breath during those intense virtual moments?

If you're a gamer, you know that rush of adrenaline you get during those life-or-death scenarios. That's your body reacting to what it perceives to be a dangerous situation, even though you're sitting in a chair doing nothing but pushing buttons.

The same concept applies to books and movies. If you've ever teared up during a sad scene, it's the same thing.

Dreams work the same way; that's why you always wake up breathing heavily during a nightmare. And don't even get me started on masturbation... that whole process just wouldn't work any other way.

Logically, the human brain knows when something isn't real. But if you're imagining it, you're going to react the same way, subconsciously, as you would if the situation were real.

There's really no substantial difference between a real relationship and a vivid imaginary one, with the exception of the obvious concrete difference. That being said, the entire argument is pretty stupid. If someone is schizophrenic, to them their illusions are real... which, in essence, proves my original point.

If someone is in an online relationship, it's obviously real to them, even if it isn't actually real. If someone is driving a car in a video game, it is real to them, even if it isn't actually real.
 
I think there is, as long as you know that the person you're talking to really is who they say they are.
I suppose the ability to actually feel each other and such would make it better, but there's no harm in videocalling on Skype, etc. until you can get that time.
 
In my opinion, of course they are real. Though there are definately a few concerns while being in one. Which the biggest one is: Are they who they say they are? Although most people won't know for sure until they really meet that person offline, you are definately throwing a lot of trust towards this person you are in a relationship with. I know I have came across an individual who totally backstabbed me. I will not go into the full details, but they were very manipulative and had me believing that they were a safe person, when they obviously were not. So, you have to be careful with what you put out there to someone, and how much you are willing to show/tell them. Also, internet relationships should NEVER be rushed. Even though a relationship offline shouldn't be rushed either, it is much more dangerous online.

But on the other hand, if two people really love each other and want to be together they both have to have full trust in one another to have it work. Some work out, and some don't, just like if you were having one offline.
 
They are real, I guess it's like another form or something. But honestly I don't see the point if you never meet or you meet like once a year... If you know you won't be able to meet for like 3 years, I think it's best to leave it until the time comes, because otherwise your online life may stand in the way of your real life.
 
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