Online Friendships

[StrawberryFields]

How close is too close to someone you have met online?

The new wave of the future (and past for some folks) is internet relationships. How comfortable would you be meeting someone you 'know' online?

What would it take before you would allow for them to see you?

When is it okay to let your guard down and give out personal contact information?

Since joining LDS Talk, which is my internet home, I have met a few people, I have even let one of those people stay in my home. I have gone to dinner as a group with Bat & Jennifer, Taorist Saint and his wife, and Lindy has come and stayed with me. Just last summer Josie and I went to dinner.

I know a lot of kids use myspace as a dating resource. Both of my kids are currently dating people they met on myspace. I have a myspace account and I have check these people out as well. Oddly enough the people my kids are dating have even added me as a 'friend' :)

If say I was in town would you want to meet me along with my hubby?

[JcDean78]

For me it depends. I work on an online mod which I have been involved in for 3 years now. I work every day with these people and so we all know each other rather well. I would consider myself close to some of them even though we have never met.

Other than that I like to keep things from the net... online only. I have no interest in meeting people from online unless they were some of the people I have worked with above.

[BenRaines]

I have been an online mod here for about 9 years. I have met some people and had one stay overnight instead of sleeping in the airport all night before a flight out in the morning. If our paths cross there are some I would not mind meeting.

I keep my online life from my real world life.

Ben Raines

[Blessed]

I have been online for 10 years and over at the Community of Christ webboard I have had some really good friends and along the way I have been able to meet with them, spend time with them and even worship with them. Even though I no longer participate on the church's webboard I maintain contact with some of my friends. Matter of fact this week I spoke on the phone with one of them for an hour.

[the_jason]

I met my wife online, so I can't say I'm opposed to it. There are, however, precautions that should be taken. First would be to get to know the person as much as you can before you meet them. Second would be to talk to other people who might know the person. Third would be to rely on the Spirit.

I enjoyed Elder Oaks talk at conference. He says "Associations through "hanging out" or exchanging information on the Internet are not a sufficient basis for marriage. There should be dating, followed by careful and thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportunities to experience the prospective spouse's behavior in a variety of circumstances."

That's good advice to follow from an Apostle of the Lord.

[Guest mamacat]

this is a good topic because i think the internet is a way to connect with people in a more real way, in a sense, because we discern the essence of a person more in what they say, and how their energy feels through 'cyberspace,' than in purely visual terms.

of course internet is a vehicle for deception, but so is real life. it expands our opportunities and abilties for understanding others' energy.

if you were to visit my city Strawberry Fields, i would love to meet you! your presence is very viable here, and i feel that i can discern honesty in your words and intentions. i trust in the guidance i receive, spiritually, as well.

i like myspace primarily for the music and ideas always in motion there. i myself don't use it as a 'meeting space'. here's my page if you'd like to take a look. it's pretty static, though i change the music, and sometimes the background, to match my whim....

i created this page last year, and of course things in my life have changed considerably since having done so, but it remains about the same as when i put it together.

nice discussion.

love, mamacat

[Fiannan]

This is an interesting topic. Related to this is when we keep up with people on-line. Have others found that when you talk with people you know that discussions often get way more personal than you would get if you were in the same room with them?

[Canuck Mormon]

I also met my fiance online. She however had some horrible incidents meeting people from online chat rooms.

[shanstress70]

I've always been kind of hesitant to meet people from online. But I really don't do a lot of 'chatting' online and never have. This is really the only place I frequent on a regular basis. I have been here for a number of years now though and feel that I know some of you quite well.

If any of you that I've talked with here for a while were coming through my town, I would love to meet you! Of course, even as sure as I am, I would never do it alone... I'd bring my husband along. He's a real big guy!

SF, I would be insulted if you did not get in touch with me if you were close by!

[Maureen]

I met my wife online, so I can't say I'm opposed to it. There are, however, precautions that should be taken. First would be to get to know the person as much as you can before you meet them. Second would be to talk to other people who might know the person. Third would be to rely on the Spirit.

I enjoyed Elder Oaks talk at conference. He says "Associations through "hanging out" or exchanging information on the Internet are not a sufficient basis for marriage. There should be dating, followed by careful and thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportunities to experience the prospective spouse's behavior in a variety of circumstances."

That's good advice to follow from an Apostle of the Lord.

Hi the_jason,

I'm just curious. How long did you converse on-line with your future wife before meeting her in person and after that, how long did you officially date before deciding to marry? Thanks! :)

M.

[StrawberryFields]

I one friend who thinks of friends she knows on the internet as her make believe or invisible friends...

I have recently learned that I invest in people way to easily. I fall for some of you guys 'out there' and sometimes this causes me pain. This has been an eye opening experience for me getting to know you. I have learned a great deal about myself in the process.

Thanks to mamacat (love your myspace page BTW) and Shan for saying they would want to meet me....the rest of you..... oh geeze .

j/k

[Blessed]

I forgot to add that when ever I have met online friends it has always been at a church function like conference or at a retreat. I did invite one person over for dinner one time as he was a reservist visiting the local base.

I don't see a problem meeting online people like those who post here. I wouldn't have a problem meeting anyone unless it is Dr. T. I would be afraid he would try to psychoanalize me. That would be scary. (lol)

[the_jason]

<div class='quotemain'>

I met my wife online, so I can't say I'm opposed to it. There are, however, precautions that should be taken. First would be to get to know the person as much as you can before you meet them. Second would be to talk to other people who might know the person. Third would be to rely on the Spirit.

I enjoyed Elder Oaks talk at conference. He says "Associations through "hanging out" or exchanging information on the Internet are not a sufficient basis for marriage. There should be dating, followed by careful and thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportunities to experience the prospective spouse's behavior in a variety of circumstances."

That's good advice to follow from an Apostle of the Lord.

Hi the_jason,

I'm just curious. How long did you converse on-line with your future wife before meeting her in person and after that, how long did you officially date before deciding to marry? Thanks! :)

M.

We lived not far from each other, so we only talked online the one time. She called me the next day and we met a couple of days later. I'm sure this thread is referring to those who live a large distance from each other and "date" online for a while before meeting in person; nevertheless, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

[pam]

One of these days Ben we will have the opportunity to meet. We've been friends "online" for 9 years and have driven (even stopping at Jamba Juice right down the street) through each other's cities yet always seem to miss each other. Others I have "met" online I would probably never want to meet. I have met quite a few in person from ldstalk. Some good experiences some bad. The internet can be a good and a bad place as everyone knows. Just need to be careful out there.

[shanstress70]

<div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotemain'>

I met my wife online, so I can't say I'm opposed to it. There are, however, precautions that should be taken. First would be to get to know the person as much as you can before you meet them. Second would be to talk to other people who might know the person. Third would be to rely on the Spirit.

I enjoyed Elder Oaks talk at conference. He says "Associations through "hanging out" or exchanging information on the Internet are not a sufficient basis for marriage. There should be dating, followed by careful and thoughtful and thorough courtship. There should be ample opportunities to experience the prospective spouse's behavior in a variety of circumstances."

That's good advice to follow from an Apostle of the Lord.

Hi the_jason,

I'm just curious. How long did you converse on-line with your future wife before meeting her in person and after that, how long did you officially date before deciding to marry? Thanks! :)

M.

We lived not far from each other, so we only talked online the one time. She called me the next day and we met a couple of days later. I'm sure this thread is referring to those who live a large distance from each other and "date" online for a while before meeting in person; nevertheless, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Did she meet you alone? That thought scares me... not you, Jason, but just a woman meeting a man for the first time alone. But I guess if you meet in a restaurant or other place, it's not so bad. What type of place did you meet at? Was it nervous and awkward, or did you hit it off instantly? Sorry, don't mean to be nosey... just curious.

[Palerider]

I have met some people from ldschat or talk....whatever its called........there are some of you I would want to meet if I knew you were in the area.....I think it would be alot of fun............

[Dr T]

I would like to sit face to face with some of you too. It would be fun, we could have a much better conversation in person.

[miztrniceguy]

well...i met and went on dates from the ldschat.com website in 1999-2002. until late 2000 i lived in so cal and there were not any suitable prospects my age in the desert. i moved to SLC hoping to better my odds. after 6 months i found work in Evanston,WY and moved there. I then went on many dates in the salt lake valley, and a few in idaho. most were one date only situations, as they were not what i was looking for. i made some friends at some group functions, and met many people from that site.

eventually i started chatting in feb 2002 with my wife, who lived here in MO. i came here on vacation in may 2002 and our first date was the Nauvoo Temple open house. i was here a week, and she took me to many local church history sites. The last day before i returned home i asked her to marry me. I moved here that july, and we were married sept 13th, a friday, in Nauvoo Temple. there were a couple of our online friends at our wedding.

since then i rarely return to that site, as it has changed to a new platform, and most the people i knew are gone. i haven't kept up with any of those friends...except trishie...since then as ive been to busy being married, having 2 kids, etc.

it's now almost 5 yrs since we met in person, and sept will be 5 yrs married. our daughter is almost 4, and our son is 16 months old.

also, since the day we first had a private chat until we were married we spent many hous on the phone, not missing a single day from feb to sept. lots of important discussions about wants needs desires.

i am happy!!!

i would be glad to meet most anyone from here who is planning on being here for church.

[StrawberryFields]

Oh BTW, I forgot to mention that my son took me to a grocery store parking lot to meet Lindy when she got into town, she had driven from Washington to Utah. He was very hesitant about letting me get into the car with her. When we got to our home he was like "What you can't let her sleep close to B and I YOU DON"T EVEN KNOW HER!!!! I suggested they lock their doors.

[Dr T]

Lindy is a great person. I would definitely meet her and her husband. I hope she's well.

[StrawberryFields]

Lindy is a great person. I would definitely meet her and her husband. I hope she's well.

Lindy is great. I miss my friend.

[Dr T]

Has anyone heard from her? Does someone have her e-mail. If so, please send her a message that Dr. T is worried about her and wants her to check in. Let her know I miss her here on LDS Talk.

Thank you

[StrawberryFields]

Has anyone heard from her? Does someone have her e-mail. If so, please send her a message that Dr. T is worried about her and wants her to check in. Let her know I miss her here on LDS Talk.

Thank you

She stopped by briefly awhile back and left a message in her blog. Try Pm'ing her it will get to her. :)

[Dr T]

When I read your last post, Berry, I thought "Great she stopped by" as in you physically saw her. Then I realized that you meant stopped by here. That does not comfort me. Was it too tall that was in her ward or someone else. Pale, yours? Has anyone seen her lately?

[StrawberryFields]

When I read your last post, Berry, I thought "Great she stopped by" as in you physically saw her. Then I realized that you meant stopped by here. That does not comfort me. Was it too tall that was in her ward or someone else. Pale, yours? Has anyone seen her lately?

She has told me not to worry that she is happy.

What are your concerns?

To Tall lives close by and was in attendence at her wedding.