BS: International Friends

Subject: BS: International Friends
From: folkfan73
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:08 PM

Hi! I have an email friend that I met from another message board and she is American, close to my age, from New Jersey, and I live in Lincolnshire, England. Her name is Sabrina, and she is a secretary. She also likes writing stories, like me, and she is Christian, like me. We have been emailing each other over many years and we exchange Christmas and birthday gifts and cards too! Her favourite music is Stevie Nicks.

Do you have a pen friend, or email friend who is in another country? What is the first name? What is the person's interests, work and religious status? What is the person's favourite music? How long have you been friends? How did you meet?

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: Azizi
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 11:39 PM

folkfan73,

In my opinion, one of the best things about Mudcat is that folks can "meet" people from other countries and cultures.

Since I've been posting on Mudcat, I've talked with not one person but many people from other countries. I've also conversed with individuals from various states in the United States that I may never physically travel to.

I've learned many things since I started posting on Mudcat. The most important thing that I have learned is that people are much more alike than they are different.

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 03:40 AM

Yes, Azizi has it on the head. Where else could you get the opportunity to discuss 'The Wild Rover' with a person from Iceland, a Bavarian, a Scot and a Dane, all in the same pub?

(I don't think we ever did discuss the merits of the 'Wild Rover' sung in Icelandic or any language, but we could have if we wanted to!)

We have a Secret Santa scheme, many exchange gifts at other times - crafters and creators share their produce with us and this forum becomes a world wide support web when one of us has a problem.

Every "household" has it's mucky corner and we're no exception, but if you don't go feeding trolls or stirring up the cess pool, the bad smell is kept to an acceptable level.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 04:25 AM

That is about it for me too. I like most of the people, whom I meet here. If I don't like a thread, or it starts turning nasty, I simply stay out of it. On the whole, I have met a lot of good folks here. Long may it continue.

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 09:18 AM

That is a lot of the appeal of MudCat !! Turn up at a MudCat weekend
and you will be made very welcome - I've done it in UK and in America
And they are all Good'Uns who bother to go to the Gathers !!

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: bfdk
Date: 11 Mar 07 - 05:56 PM

Liz, you forgot to mention the American :-)

Anyroads, the way I understand your question, folkfan73, you're not asking about Mudcat in particular, but about enduring internet friendships in general, so this is what this post is about.

I've met several good friends through the internet over the years, basically because that way you can pick your friends by mutual interests rather than by the necessity for proximity. For someone like me with what you could call "non-mainstream" interests (dachshunds, genealogy, wildlife photography (birds and bugs) and folk music / dancing), this has been a real blessing. Two of my best friends today are both people I met through the internet about 10 years ago, one is Iris in Germany with whom I share an interest in dachshunds, dachshund genealogy and homepage construction. We've met many times since and stay in touch on a regular basis. The other, strictly speaking, is not "international", but without the internet I probably would never have met her anyway. She is Hanne, and we share a keen interest in genealogy, have ancestors in common and today also share an internet domain offering ressources for others interested in Danish genealogy. Since Hanne moved into the country a few years back and became a dog owner we now also discuss dog related issues.

From interests in common these two friendships have developed into being "all-round", and today Iris and Hanne are both friends I'd trust with my life, if need be. They're the kind of mates I really value, someone who'd stand by you come what may, might tell you a few home truths face to face but would never EVER stab you in the back - something that means a lot to me. Mates with whom you always know where you stand. Mates with whom you never have to fumble in the dark and try to second-guess what they're on about or want you to do to "preserve" the friendship. They're true friends to the tune of standing by me even at the present time when my life is in turmoil because I'm fighting tough battles on three fronts at the same time. These two friends have really made my life richer.

As for Mudcat, I've been around for going on two years and have had the pleasure of meeting in real life the lovely and lovable loonies of Portland Maine, an assorted bunch of mainly British Catters at Banbury and another mixed bag at Portaferry. I'm not going to name names, or I'd be at it all day :-)

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 04:16 AM

I count myself as very lucky indeed. I'm a member of the Great Mudcat Family and often feel wrapped in warm from it.

I'm also a member of a couple of other forums which has the same sort of feeling. One is a craft community and the other is a senior citizens community. Both are policed by their own members and trolls are just ignored - they get fed up with no feedback eventually and disappear up their own fundament.

May the warm of communites like Mudcat always be around. Thanks Max.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 04:28 AM

Just think of Mudcat as a big fluffy warm dressing gown with a built-in personal stereo - just don't go looking in the corners of the pockets!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: ranger1
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 07:31 AM

MAny of my Mudcat friends are also friends in real life now. I also have several friends on a videogaming website that I'm in contact with through e-mail and snail-mail (and one that I convinced to join the 'cat!). We share music (yes, on a gamer website!) and life's little ups and downs.

Subject: RE: BS: International Friends
From: GUEST,Mingulay at work
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:15 AM

Being the sort of prat that I am I couldn't resist digging in the pockets where I found a small embroidered patch.

Does anyone know of a catter with the initials "CH" ???

Also, does anyone like furry mint humbugs?