I have been thinking about this for some time now. Wondering what is going on psychologically when we feel close to people through cyberspace yet we have never met each other personally.
Are these friendships real or are they just a fantasy we create in our minds?
Cyberspace friendships seem to stir the same emotions as any other personal friendship. Does that make them real? There are people I feel close to in 'real life' yet I struggle to have the ease of conversation I can share with my cyberspace friends. I sum this up to the layers of 'fluff' surrounding me that seem to get in the way of deeper intimacy. The walls protecting my fortress when I am scared and my turtle shell that I duck into when I feel threatened.
In cyberspace I do not need much in the way of defenses, I can relax and be at ease when expressing my feelings. It is a strange feeling to feel close to people I have never met.
On some level this makes sense, on another level it does not.
What is it like for other Mudcatters?
What is it like for other Mudcatters who have been friends with people through cyberspace and then one day they eventually meet these people personally?
The cyberspace friendships I have made do mean a great deal to me. But it does leave me asking a lot of questions.
I was hoping some of the other Mudcatters could help me formulate some opinions on this matter.

Little Neo