Comments on: Yes. Internet Friends can also be Friends IRL

By: YMMV. -- Hoover’s Business Insight Zone

YMMV. -- Hoover’s Business Insight Zone — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:40:07 +0000

[...] Tara Hunt made a similar point in this post: Yes. Internet Friends can also be Friends IRL [...]

By: Chris5topher

Chris5topher — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:42:33 +0000

Chris5topher…

I was thinking the same thing…

By: Lisa McMillan

Lisa McMillan — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:09:22 +0000

I’ve had to call on my online social network friends a number of times when I’ve fallen. Sometimes I didn’t need to reach out at all: my silence seemed to do it for me. I have often said to my ‘real life friends’ (I hate that term) that you guys get me better than anyone and are often more helpful by knowing from personal experience how to draw on similar strengths to get through it all. These social networks we are creating aren’t all false. I have made MANY connections based on interests, lifestyles, values and experiences, which is actually more than I can say about some people I see in person every day, and more, I’m certain, than the socweb naysayers can say about some of the people they call “real friends”. The equation for me is simple: the more you put into the community, the more you’ll get out of it. You are proof of that for me.

I think most would be surprised how much this crowd (YOUR crowd) relies on each other and are there when you’re hurting. I appreciate that you have the courage speak publicly about it all and value the trust you have in us (and this new social medium) to be able to do so. None of this is easy. It must be tricky because many of us out here, on flickr and facebook and twitter, haven’t known you except as part of the power team, and respect you both.

Use these new business and personal networks (and us) to grow from it all. You really DO have friends here. I think you’ll find, like everything, if you stay sincere and genuine –I’m sure you wouldn’t have it any other way — everyone gets more out of it.

Take care girl. And just in case you weren’t sure already, I’m easy to find. Call me any time. Sometimes people who actually AREN’T right there can provide a perspective that you didn’t think about before. Hugs! Lisamac.

By: Melle

Melle — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:24:24 +0000

Really, when you live one way 99% of the time, it doesn’t really make sense to do a 180 on an occasion when something big happens (either good or bad, but usually bad). The people you share with are the people you share with, corporeal or not, and not being physically present doesn’t by definition mean people are less empathetic or sincere or real.

Now, changing how you live/communicate based on what you need at a given time, for a given length of time, is something entirely different than doing it for others’ sense of decorum. You’re going to go through periods of feeling betrayed anyway; the last thing you need is to feel like you’re betraying yourself.

And the complete separation of church and state with regards to business and personal relationships continues to dissolve, I think. It has to — human interaction silos aren’t compatible with a culture that strives for collaboration, conversation, and transparency.

Anyway, to paraphrase “Goin’ on a Lion Hunt”: can’t go over it, can’t go under it, can’t go around it, might as well go through it.

By: Stefan Hayden

Stefan Hayden — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:48:50 +0000

I really think you are like the Opera of professionally expressing emotions. I wish more people could be so open, strong and elegant.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:59:16 +0000

Its funny how we see being honest and human (broken hearts and all) as being brave. I viscerally feel that, too, which seems very silly b/c I (and we all) know that everybody hurts.

Still, Miss T – I think it speaks a lot about your work that your raw humanity seems so consistent with your business. That’s magic.
Would you have had the opportunity to see that if you and your fella hadn’t split? Probs not. That’s dome damn good lemondade made out of one heckuva lemon.

Go on girl, you’ll be fine.

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:42:29 +0000

I’ve been online since 1984, and I can’t imagine my life without my online – and offline – friends. But I do feel you on the frustration of convincing people that online friends have value too.

I love the blog. I’m sorry for your difficulties. One step at a time (this and other cliches offered…)

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:40:01 +0000

No matter how hard it becomes in the short term, estrangement is worse.

It’s what’s called “Fighting the Good Fight.”

Ain’t easy.

By: Twitter Response from @jeanlucr « TweetTrack

Twitter Response from @jeanlucr « TweetTrack — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:19:33 +0000

[...] February 22, 2008 Yes. Internet Friends can also be Friends in real life (Tara Hunt) http://www.horsepigcow.com/2008/02/21/yes-internet-friends-can-also-be-friends-irl/ [...]