Internet Friends

First off, happy new year to you all. I was meaning to do this post yesterday, but unfortunately it didn't materialise, but happy new year nonetheless.

(rhettsmith, 2007)

I read digg a lot, and I've had this article (Cheng, J, 2006) from their saved in my bookmarks for while a while now, just waiting for the right time to be used. It discusses how people view relationships that began online. Although 2,000 US participants responded, it doesn't say how many of them are actually involved in online communities, which is a shame. I think the thing that surprised me most though was that 43% of those who participate in online communities felt as strongly about the friends they met online as the off-line ones. Perhaps this figure would look different if we knew how many said they participated in communities online.

Looking back on it though, most of what is said seems pretty accurate, for me at least). I probably know more people online than most, due to being an active member of the counter strike community, and of course, using IRC and VoIP because of it helps a great deal. However, I don't think I participate in any of my online communities off-line, neither have I gotten involved in much social activism because of the internet. The only thing that I've yet to do, but probably will, is to meet someone face to face who I first met online.

Cheng, J (2006) We love our Internet friends, really [internet], Available from: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061130-8326.html [Accessed 02 January 2007].
rhettsmith (2007) New Year [internet], Available from: http://www.rhettsmith.com/blog/archives/images/new%20year.jpg [Accessed 02 January 2007].