Online friendships?

So, i've been putting thought into the whole notion of online friendships as of late, and i've been trying to pinpoint exactly where i stand on them. On the one hand, there's no physical contact with people you chat to over msn/email/online games, and sometimes you don't even know what the other person looks like. On the other hand however, surely the enjoyment you get from chatting and interacting with these people is no less "real" than that shared with people in a physical social environment.

I've been chatting online for many year now, as far back as 11 or 12 years old if i remember correctly, and in that time i've had friends come and go on and off line. I've fallen out with people from school, and people i've met through forums. I've felt emotionally attatched to people i've met online and off. I think it's reaching a point where i value my online friends just as much as those i have offline.

It's easy to become an object of ridicule for a statment such as that, as you open yourself up to the whole "you don't have any REAL friends, they're all miles away on a computer" but i don't think that should make a huge difference to how a friendship developes. I have made some pretty amazing friends online, whether they're through jpop forums (AHS) or online games (FF) i value them all. If they're unhappy, i'm there to listen to them. If they have some good news, i'm genuinely happy for them. If they just wanna vent, once again, i'm willing to hear them out. These are all aspects of a normal offline friendship, so in employing them online, you're pretty much breaking down the barrier of distance and computer.

I suppose i should stop now though, as i feel myself beginning to ramble aimlessly. I'll just finish with a short list of those who mean a lot to me (using screen-names):

(FF): Souel, Arnor, Milie, Rifu, Miry, Brigett, Hye, Halidar (don't ask me why :P)

(AHS): Soysaucestar, Pommy, Cory, Sxesven, Chibinina, Yvette.

Many of the AHS member's are no longer around, but i still consider them great friends.

Thankyou everyone, i value your friendship's greatly.

(and apologies to anyone i care about who was left off the list, i'm typing this on the fly and haven't actually got a full list to pick from lol.)

Jero

So, next week i have two meetings with IT trainer's to get an idea of what I could learn from their courses. I'm planning to head into computer maintenance/repair, so i'm looking for the best training I can currently get. Finger's crossed it goes well for me, it's about time i started earning some moolah.

I finally finished my Music Station and Kouhaku downloads. Only watched half of each so far, but Kouhaku really gave me a surprise with Jero - reportedly the first African-American enka singer. This guy's fantastic, really really great voice!




Just a short message then today, but better than the nothing i posted for months ^^. I may post again in future about my love of enka... as small as it is ^^;;

Wahey

SO, i've added a new blog to my list on the side... the wonderous Pommy ^^ Seriously one of the greatest people i've met online... even if she is just a stones throw away from being clinically insane o.o

How was everyone's Christmas? Mine wasn't too bad, just growing older takes away a fair chunk of the wonder of the day. I'm no longer excited at 5am on the 25th of December, and i do miss that feeling, but oh well, I am 22 now, so it's to be expected ^^.

Anywho, I decided to treat myself after Christmas and finally purchased a PSP yay! Only have 4 games so far, but damn it was worth it just for Crisis Core. That game had one of the best endings i've ever witnessed, and the soundtrack was absolutely fantastic.

On the subject of game music, I found this user on youtube, katethegreat19 , who does, quite simply, the greatest covers of video game music i've ever heard. Not only does she write some excellent lyrics, but she's just such a talented musician and singer, i'm truly amazed by her.


http://uk.youtube.com/user/katethegreat19

I really look forward to seeing what else she comes out with in future ^^. I'm already a big fan!

Finally, with this being the Christmas/new year period i'd LOVE to comment on the Music Station Super Live and Kouhaku Uta Gassen, but as the downloads are going SO damn slow, that will have to wait until another time ^^.

Take care folks ^^ (whoever reads this lol)