Comments on: Can we make friends in social networks and online communities http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/ Social media agency, online communities, marketing Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:39:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: pprlisa http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-4317 pprlisa Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:47:37 +0000 http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/?p=702#comment-4317 People ask me this question a lot - and I tell them, it really is true, you can develop very close friendships with people you meet on social networks. My sister actually did this in forums over ten years ago and still has these friends. I joined Twitter in October of 2007 and "met" many people. I have since met most of them in person and have developed very close friendships with several of them - I consider some to be the closest I've ever had in my life. I am in my 40s, I am single with kids and work from home - I don't have a ton of opportunities to meet people with the same interests, so this has been a godsend to me. Sure, I've met some crazies, but that can happen in person as well. People ask me this question a lot – and I tell them, it really is true, you can develop very close friendships with people you meet on social networks. My sister actually did this in forums over ten years ago and still has these friends. I joined Twitter in October of 2007 and “met” many people. I have since met most of them in person and have developed very close friendships with several of them – I consider some to be the closest I’ve ever had in my life. I am in my 40s, I am single with kids and work from home – I don’t have a ton of opportunities to meet people with the same interests, so this has been a godsend to me. Sure, I’ve met some crazies, but that can happen in person as well.

]]> By: Matt Rhodes http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-4312 Matt Rhodes Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:56:10 +0000 http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/?p=702#comment-4312 @Janice, I know many people who would treat those they have met in an online community as a friend - somebody they are interested in and care about. In fact it's interesting to watch the dynamics at play here. A recent experience in one of our online communities saw 50 members become bloggers - they became so close that when one had a family crisis the others rallied round on the site to support her. A great example of how you can get to know people online. Matt @Janice,

I know many people who would treat those they have met in an online community as a friend – somebody they are interested in and care about. In fact it’s interesting to watch the dynamics at play here. A recent experience in one of our online communities saw 50 members become bloggers – they became so close that when one had a family crisis the others rallied round on the site to support her. A great example of how you can get to know people online.

Matt

]]> By: Matt Rhodes http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-4311 Matt Rhodes Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:54:20 +0000 http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/?p=702#comment-4311 @Patricia Agree - the beauty of online communities is that you can get to know people through their thoughts, ideas and contributions and so find people that are interesting and useful to you. Matt @Patricia

Agree – the beauty of online communities is that you can get to know people through their thoughts, ideas and contributions and so find people that are interesting and useful to you.

Matt

]]> By: To ‘friend’ or to ‘follow’ - connecting with people online | FreshNetworks Blog http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-4309 To ‘friend’ or to ‘follow’ - connecting with people online | FreshNetworks Blog Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:37:00 +0000 http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/?p=702#comment-4309 [...] « Can we make friends in social networks and online communities [...] [...] « Can we make friends in social networks and online communities [...]

]]> By: Janice Pearson http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2009/06/can-we-make-friends-in-social-networks-and-online-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-4297 Janice Pearson Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:14:17 +0000 http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/?p=702#comment-4297 People need to broaden their horizons, think outside the box, stretch their paradigms and all other cliches apply. Friendships come in many forms. The ways to make friends and engage people come in many forms. We all choose how we represent ourselves to others. I like to think I'm a wysiwyg kinda gal but I'm sure I show different sides to different people, or at least different people will see different sides of me. Who we are online is often a more 'naked' persona, stripped of physicality - and we may dare to share more than we would in real life. I embrace it all really. From the penpals of my youth, to the phone pals, email pals and social media pals of my adulthood; they all add to my experience of people and of life. People need to broaden their horizons, think outside the box, stretch their paradigms and all other cliches apply. Friendships come in many forms. The ways to make friends and engage people come in many forms. We all choose how we represent ourselves to others. I like to think I’m a wysiwyg kinda gal but I’m sure I show different sides to different people, or at least different people will see different sides of me. Who we are online is often a more ‘naked’ persona, stripped of physicality – and we may dare to share more than we would in real life. I embrace it all really. From the penpals of my youth, to the phone pals, email pals and social media pals of my adulthood; they all add to my experience of people and of life.

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