Since I started online there has always been one question that I have heard many answers to and I just wanted to share my thoughts on this subject – do you accept friend invites from strangers?
First, I want to give you some definitions ……
Friend – a person you know well and regard with affection and trust.
Stranger – an individual that one is not acquainted with
Acquaintance – a relationship less intimate than friendship
Now there is a difference – the same principles that you use offline is the same as you do online. Keep in mind that you can have thousands of acquaintances, and many can be strangers until you break the barrier down and learn to communicate. You will find that some will continue to be acquaintances but you may be missing the opportunity to find a great online friend.
Just as with offline friends (fellow classmates, members of clubs you are in etc.) even tho you have some things in common and see each other occasionally – they are your acquaintances. You also have offline friends (close girlfriend, dancing partner, gardening buddy, etc.) the ones that you call when you need to talk, laugh, or even cry – you know the ones I’m talking about – those are friends.
Well online, you can have the same thing and with the technology of today it’s even easier than ever. People often ask me how I can accept all these request from strangers – well a stranger is only a stranger if you continue to let them be. Just a simple hi and I’m from Wisconsin, am a grandma, love gardening and line dancing – will usually break the ice when sending a stranger a friend request.
Over the years, I have been so blessed with all the acquaintances and friends that I have made online and are there any strangers out there – my answer is no – I just have not met them all yet.
So like I said, just my opinion – I do love meeting new people, chatting with them and seeing what we have in common and it might be as simple as we both like playing Farmville on Facebook, playing pool on Pogo, or we both love chatting about flowers, grandkids, our pets, online and offline businesses, etc. – You will never know the opportunity that you may be missing if you don’t break the barrier with a HI.
Many also ask me – how do you keep up with all your friends and chat – believe me you can – no different than getting a phone call from a friend you haven’t seen for awhile – catch up with each other, leave IM for each other on skype (that’s my favorite), sending emails, jokes, recipes, etc. – it can be done. The best part I have discovered is that you never know when just a smiley will make someones day – it’s not how long the message is sometimes – it’s just knowing that you were thought about.
So, don’t be shy – stop and say hi and make some online friends – you might just be surprised all the people that you have something in common with.
Hi Nancy,
I found you through the blog followers group and I am now following you. Please stop by and visit, today I am blogging about getting rid of clutter. http://theevolvingspirit.blogspot.com
You have a wonderful blog and look forward to reading more of your post – thanks for visiting.
You are the Epitome of a Friend! You share so much of yourself with others, I am in awe of you! You are a Best Friend! Not just a Friend. This article shows the person I know you are! Thank God for You!
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
Thanks for visiting my site and letting me know where you found me – that really helps
WOW… like always your blogs are from the heart… loved reading it… You are soon to be a superstar in the network marketing industry !! Keep following your heart ! 🙂
Best Wishes
Kristinn Runarsson
This is very good. I had to learn about friends online. I decided to let people who asked me to befriend them into my life. I have so enjoyed some of these relationships. I have a new friend, who when she came to Canada, from England, for a visit made time to spend with me for a day. I took her to a couple of my favorite places and she loved them. We had such a great day. We now are friends, keep in touch with each other, and plan on seeing each other again me in England and Her here again in Canada. I have mailed her something the snail way because she is my friend and we share. Will all people we meet online become our best friends? No! will we learn from everyone we meet? Yes! To me that is a great thing. I love online, I have met new people that have enriched my life and connected with family and friends that I had lost contact with. Isn’t that wonderful. To me yes yes yes. Have a great day filled with love,gratitude,passion, and good health. All the best to you.
Oh, I agree with you totally Lyn – I have a gal that I met from Germany and she has been to visit with me two times now – she is waiting for me to visit her now. I also have this wonderful friend in Texas that her and I chat nightly and help each other with out businesses – so you are sooooooo right – I do believe that you can have online friends that become your best friend – my friend in Texas is that – she knows me better sometimes than I know myself.
Since I have started blogging there have been quite a few new friends in my life. Although we never talk on the phone or exchange regular emails we share the same common interests, blogging. Simply helping each other out by sharing this interest is another type of friendship at another level, but it is a friendship.
Hello Nancy, Great article about friendships. The internet is a different animal and takes a little more effort to get to know one another. But thanks to the Internet I now have friends all over the world. You are an inspiration to us all on building relationships.
Oh I agree Kathy – the internet is a wonderful world if you let it be – and like you have friends all over the world.