Internet Friends are The Best Friends.
When you are a normally quiet person, awkward around new people, grasping for things to talk about because it does not come naturally, public outings, meetings, introduction games (whoever thought that remembering someone's name and also an object that starts with the first letter of their name is just the worst person in the world), and any getting-to-know-you situation brings on nerves, regret at what you should have said, and finally, exhaustion. Real-life people are hard.
For those people- people like me- there has been this amazing THING that is connecting with like-minded people online (and not through some sketchy dating service) through blogs and social media. You get talking to someone for some random reason- you liked a post they wrote, they're witty on social media, you're in a group of people doing the same thing- and suddenly, before you know it, you're friends. Real friends. Friends you can tell wacky things to and who totally get you. They're there when you need them and they're always up for talking because they are like you, and they love the interaction you get on the computer where there is no filter and no one giving you strange looks because you told a joke that fell flat.
I love my Internet Friends. Without them, being home with the kids would have probably driven me insane by now, I probably wouldn't have a business and a blog that I both enjoy, and I wouldn't know that there are other people just like me scattered all across the world. I consider these people true friends and would gladly meet them in person so we could sit across from each other in awkward silence, except it wouldn't be like that because we already know each other. We've already talked for thousands of hours so all the awkward small talk is out of the way. How cool is that?
If you're on Instagram, instead of leaving a comment today, hop on over and see me on IG and leave a comment on this post instead. I'd love to hear what you have to say. And if you're not on Instagram, let me know what you think of Internet friends. Do you think they're really real friends if you've never met? Have you met an Internet friend? Do you find the whole concept strange? Chime in!
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In case you missed it: Introvert and The Itch.
I forget who said it, but I remember in one of our email chains somebody suggested that Etsy change its name to The Best Friends Club, which is perfect! I'd hate to think how my life would be without my internet community (I'd probably still be miserable at a day job, for one thing) because it's so great to know people who just get you. I mean, obviously we all know people in real life who "get us" but I feel like it's not quite the same, especially when we have problems with some obscure part of a being a tiny business owner. Or when we're the only introverts around and people are forcing small talk on us. :-) I think the Blogger Summit needs to happen in 2015!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for internet friends too! I would probably go crazy at home by myself all day sometimes. It's nice to have people that I can connect with and relate to when most people look at me like I'm weird if I talk about my business.
ReplyDeleteI'm ok with Blogger Summit 2015, but just be prepared for me to be as awkward as I would be had I never talked to any of you before...lololol.
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel like some of my internet friends are awesome, and I wish we could meet in person! The few I have met in person, it was like we'd known each other for so long even though we'd just met. So crazy how that works!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome because you can find people who are so like-minded it's almost bizarre. I have Internet friends I know would be best friends if they lived closer- and I wish they did!
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome to be able to talk with people who have a similar mindset, are doing similar things as me, and who just overall "get it".
ReplyDeleteI love that there are people we can bounce ideas off of and who are going through similar things, and it's nice to have someone there if you need them (hello, quick tweet or gchat!) at any time day or night. I can say nutty things to them and they get it and reply in turn. I love that!
ReplyDeleteI love Internet friends, too! I never thought I would use the phrase "Blogger friend" or "Instagram friend," but those people exist! And they're awesome. When we first got the Internet (I was in 8th grade, I think), the Internet was this big, scary web of people and information where BAD THINGS HAPPEN, haha. I never would have thought that, ten years later, people I have never before met in real life would know me so well and would know how to make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYour last statement is so awesome- I think when you're online and you can't really see someone, your personality comes out, so you know almost right away if you click with someone without all the awkwardness. It's fantastic!
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