*This myTake is based on my personal opinion. Thanks!
"Appreciation, respect, support... There are many ingredients of friendship that do not require physical presence. However, are they enough to hold the bond through a screen?"
Technology has evolved the ways of communication and relationship, enabling, for example, virtual friendship. There are many people who decide to be a part of the online universe aiming to know and to connect with others.
Most of the times, we use the Internet to establish a first contact that can later be made in real life. But the question is:
Is it possible to establish and maintain a true friendship through this channel?
With the advancement of modernity, we have never been so connected and at the same time so far from others. We've come to a point where we wonder what, in fact, is real.
In life, we learn that friendships exist in various forms and motives. We have friends we've known since we were kids, friends from school, work friends, party friends. No matter the origin of the relationship, the only thing in common is the mutual, unconscious interest in what the other person may offer you. I don't mean material things, I mean the fact that friendships are a two-way street relationships. You don't just get what you need, you must give it in return.
It is logical to conclude that there are certain types of friendship that are not feasible through a screen. If you have a virtual friend, you can't hug them or go to a bar with them on weekends.
However, there are many other ingredients of friendship that are present in virtual relationships.
Disinterested Friendship...
Since there is no common context that forces interaction (as occurs in kinship and work relationships), the relationship established online is totally voluntary. It will sustain itself in shared interests and values and in a great personal affinity. Both will decide to keep the bond because they find it enriching and satisfying. Friendship will arise from a genuine liking for the personality of the other.
Having virtual friendships requires time and many written conversations. Something that may seem banal, greatly makes it easier to use our ability to express and open ourselves to others. Writing helps us to connect with our feelings and share them in greater depth. In addition, it allows us to take the time necessary to appreciate the nuances of what the other is sharing with us.
I believe that there are three basic components in a friendship: Loyalty, Support and Confidence ~ things that are far from being affected by physical distance and capable of even being empowered.
The fact that a person is willing to give part of their time to invest it in building a bond with you is always satisfactory. In addition, the value of this gesture multiplies when both have different lives, are geographically separated and, nevertheless, prioritize the care of this friendship.
In short, we can conclude that a virtual friendship can never replace the physical contact and shared experiences of a traditional friendship. However, there are times when we meet really interesting and similar people, although they are physically distant from us. In these moments, it is important to value these people, even if you do not yet know them in person.
For true friendships full of love are rare to find and impossible to give up.
"There are no virtual friends on the Internet. They are REAL friends we just haven't met yet"
Thanks for reading!
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