Do you think online relationships can work? [Ends 17/01/2010]

[Charlie]

I don't see why not. It may not be your everyday typical relationship between two people who can see each other physically on a daily basis but as stated, advances in technology today are making it so there is plenty of alternatives to that which may not be as good but at least they are there.

I don't think it would be easy depending how serious and strong the feelings of the people involved are but if you are aware of the fact that it'll be hard and are willing to deal with that, then why not? You never know what the future holds also and you could end up meeting eventually and taking it further from there and it becoming something more then an online relationship.

[-Heart]

You do realise people meet on Facebook & stuff then later on get married and stuff? :S

Is that just what you'd like to believe, or do you actually know some examples? Besides, they'll probably end up getting a divorce anyway.

[Jay.]

Is that just what you'd like to believe, or do you actually know some examples? Besides, they'll probably end up getting a divorce anyway.

actually i know plenty of people who have. Besides its safer than out there. If you want a serious relationship, wont find it in a pub.

[-Heart]

actually i know plenty of people who have. Besides its safer than out there. If you want a serious relationship, wont find it in a pub.

Yeah, meeting someone online who could be a 40-year old paedophile is safer than meeting someone in say a bar?

[TheEclipse]

Only if they meet up. Meeting online= fine. Staying in contact online if you can't meet often= fine. Only dating online is weird to me, especially if it's for a really long time before you can meet. I know so many internet couples who it turned out didn't get along in real life.

My boyfriend and I met online, and then met in real life a month and a half or so later, and then hung out weekly or more for a few months before becoming a couple. It worked well for us. I've also made many friendships that way.

[GommeInc]

I believe in your attempt to show that online relationships can work you've actually done the opposite - you yourself said that it'll only work if it "isn't based online forever". This suggests that online relationships in themselves cannot work, but only serve as a platform for a later real relationship. I by no means am attempting to belittle your opinion of e-relationships because if you're happy now then go for it, but they are not permanent situations and cannot healthily be called such, so by your own admission online relationships do not "work" in a real sense.

The debate seems to not be about "just e-relationships", but online relationships as an initial form of relationship which may evolve into a real life relationship later on, so his opinion isn't invalid in terms of the original question put forth with the opening statement - which is why this debate is somewhat flawed from the start - online relationships do work, and I quote from the opening debate statement "with some of these relationships blossoming into long-term partnerships and on occasion marriage." Yes, e-relationships that do not fruit into anything do not work, but e-relationships that evolve do work. Afterall, is an e-relationship that evolves into a standard relationship, companionship or marriage unsuccessful? No, they do work as well as relationships where you initially meet in person It's a no-brainer really

Yeah, meeting someone online who could be a 40-year old paedophile is safer than meeting someone in say a bar?

If you're stupid to meet them in dark alleys, or not take a good long look at their Facebook page to see how many friends they have, how they talk to other people and so on, then you probably deserve the heartache coming your way :rolleyes: You're looking at them in black and white, and perceiving online relationships as a paedophile source, rather than alot of normal people sharing interests and maybe meeting up, which is strangely quite common :S

[FlyingJesus]

FlyingJesus, in my later post I also stated that relationships that are purely based online wont work, but using online as a gateway to relationships will.

It's really a matter of age. If you're under 20 then online dating isn't bad, as you don't really need to be engaged into a proper relationship just yet. Therefore, if you do fall for someone when you're still young, and you decide to be with them for the rest of your life then you'll need to meet afterwards.

I'm just purely debating my opinion here, but if you plan on staying online for your whole life with someone, it's blates not going to work. As humans, we need love and affection, and I agree online you won't get that but meeting people online is just a gateway until you're older and then can spent your life with eachother.

I'm 100% totally in agreement with what you're saying, just not the conclusion To me, it logically follows that saying an "online-only" relationship won't work is the same as saying online relationships don't work, as once you've progressed to reality (even if it's the same person you've been having an online relationship with) it's no longer an internet girl/boyfriend that you have.

[Jay.]

You clearly take care meeting people online, in a pub your drunk so you're vunerable!

Edit: if they dont blossom then a family cannot be formed thus helping society. People looking for a solid, strong relationship mostly have a strong value of families in mind.

[-Heart]

If you're stupid to meet them in dark alleys, or not take a good long look at their Facebook page to see how many friends they have, how they talk to other people and so on, then you probably deserve the heartache coming your way :rolleyes: You're looking at them in black and white, and perceiving online relationships as a paedophile source, rather than alot of normal people sharing interests and maybe meeting up, which is strangely quite common :S

When meeting someone online and deciding to meet up, there's always a strong possibility that it would turn into a long distance relationship, and if we're talking about teenagers here then that doesn't often work out, as it isn't logical.

[GommeInc]

Like you said, there's a "strong possibility", not a certainty Quite alot of meet ups are done locally, both as friends and relationships. Teenage ones may progress when you approach university, you might even meet someone you talked to online at a university you are going to - afterall, if you're "friends" or interested with this person, you're sure to mention where you're heading off to for your university placements and if they're thinking about university, they may mention what they're up to as well. It's not black and white - you'll either fail or die, or not get anywhere, there are loads of different instances when discussing online relationships Logn distant ones depend upon commitment, though a very risky option.