I've had my experiences with online relationships. I've had about six online boyfriends and none of those relationships last very long. However, I can't say that I regret them. I personally find nothing wrong with online relationships - sure, the people may be lying to you about who they are, but you're in love with that person nevertheless.

I've had an online relationship before that was... Intense, you could say.
I've known the guy for about six or seven years and it's fair to say that there is love between us. Before, and after, we broke up, we were the best of friends. We still talk on a regular basis and we still get along as great as ever. The only thing that broke us up was the strain of not being 100% the other person was real. Not having any physical proof.

So, basically, I want to know other people's experiences with online relationships.
What do you think of them?
Have you been in any?
Do you approve of them?
Do you believe love can be found on the Internet?

I think that online relationships are a bit odd. Just because you may know what the person is like from your online discussions but I feel that part of a relationship is the physical closeness and intimacy that you can share with another person. I have never been in an online relationship, but I don't disapprove of them because it's whatever works for some people and I feel that love could be found anywhere and I guess that the internet is just another outlet. However, I personally do not believe that I would be able to find someone significant online and pursue a relationship with them.

I agree with wynna but I have known people who do find a good person. End getting married and had kids even. Never would date someone online because I didn't have trouble finding men offline. A keeper found me :lol: married 7yrs this October. But, hey whatever floats your boat. I just wouldn't do it whenever I was single.

I typically don't do relationships in general but occasionally you meet someone who makes you stop and take a chance. That's kind of where I am now. We're on opposite ends of the country but we care deeply for one another and there may be a future for us. It all depends on your own individual circumstances, really.

I have no issues with online dating; it's how I met my fiance, after all. We were both moderators for a chat program, so we ended up working together a lot. I guess we just kind of clicked and decided to give dating a try.

We took it slow, which helped build a bit more trust between us. We'd worked together for a couple of years, so we knew a few things about each other, but going slow helped us to build on that. We started with e-mail and IMs, exchanging pictures, then short phone calls, longer phone calls, messages at work, etc. We actually didn't even meet face-to-face until we'd been together for over two years, and that was when I packed everything and moved 800 miles from home to be with him.

We'll be celebrating eight years together in June and we have plans to get married next year. And as hard as it was not having him physically there for the early years, I wouldn't change a thing. We're just like any other couple; we just happened to meet in semi-unusual way.

In short, yes, I believe love can be found online. I won't judge anyone saying that they're seeing someone on the Internet (otherwise I'd be a hypocrite), and I think those type of relationships are fine... they just require a little more effort, is all.

I myself have never had an online relationship, but a person who I consider one of my best friends (even though we've only talked online) has had a few, and they worked well for her.

I'm not sure whether or not I'd want to go for an online relationship, because my last boyfriend lived on the opposite end of the country from me which was hard enough, so the chance of going out with someone on the opposite en of the globe would be ten times worse. I guess it would really just depend on how I felt about the person. Though I think that intimacy and physical contact are important aspects of relationships, otherwise you may as well just consider yourself friends, with online relationships you don't have that closeness and person to person contact. Another reason why I'm not sure that they're for me.

However, I do believe that love can be found anywhere, and if you've found "the one" online, it wouldn't put me up nor down. It's all a matter of personal preference, and if you and your significant other are happy, that's the main thing. What others think shouldn't matter.

I have no reason not to "believe" in them or to have any problem with others who wish to be a part of them. I don't feel that there is any significant difference between being with someone online/long-distance or in person. Of course if you are the kind of person who requires physical contact, then online dating might not be for you. But for those who are interested, it is just as legitimate as anything else.

I don't think I support them.
Especially considering that the most often I hear about online "relationships" is from teenagers who don't seem to know how to use common sense.

I'm perhaps a little biased towards online relationships, in a negative fashion. In my own personal experience I let myself believe thel lies of a particualr individual, and become close to said person...later on when our relationship broke out from the online realm, I found out how she really was...unfortunately by the time her true colors rose to the surface, we had already been Married and had a Daughter...now I have been dealing with a horrid divorce and vicious custody struggle...frankly I feel that you should make relationships of this nature with people you can see out of the online element, considering that fact that people can claim to be anything they please online, however in real life they tend to scarcely resseble the portrait they so careful illustrated online.

I knew these two people on World of Warcraft who hooked up.

They both raided every night in my guild, and one day the guy told us he bought the chick a plane ticket. She went to spend a week with him, mooched his money/food, and went back to wherever she lives. She broke up with him a week or so later I lol'd @ him because I told him it would happen.

The funny thing is, about three months later I see a different Buddie from WoW update his pics on Facebook. It's pictures of the girl and him hugging each other at his house! She did the same thing to him.

I bet she's on her 13th or 14th guy.

I don't particularly like the idea of an online relationship.
A very large part of maintaining a good relationship is having physical contact with said person.
Chatting over skype just doesn't work quite the same.
Also, a very important thing to remember: this is the internet, people lie and deceive most of the time, so it's hard to tell if someone you're talking to is true genuine or if it's just a ruse.
A friend of mine started getting close to this one guy online. As it turns out, this guy was actually a girl pretending to be a guy. My friend wasn't all too ecstatic about the situation.

I'm not saying that online relationships are always doomed to fail, but that should the relationship remain solely internet-based and you never get to meet the person, it won't end well.
I've heard many a tale of people meeting through WoW or other games and getting married eventually because of that. And honestly, that sounds awesome.

I'm actually in an online relationship right now.
The distance isn't that bad though.
I'm in Washington and my signification other is in California.
The strain from the distance is always hard but we care about each other and want to make it work.

I believe that online relationships can be a good thing, and even work,
if the two people are honest, trusting, and mature about it.
Without those key points it won't work.

So I am for them.
But say, 13 and 14 year old kids have an online relationship?
I'm completely against it.

Originally Posted by Arkkath

I don't particularly like the idea of an online relationship.
A very large part of maintaining a good relationship is having physical contact with said person.
Chatting over skype just doesn't work quite the same.
Also, a very important thing to remember: this is the internet, people lie and deceive most of the time, so it's hard to tell if someone you're talking to is true genuine or if it's just a ruse.
A friend of mine started getting close to this one guy online. As it turns out, this guy was actually a girl pretending to be a guy. My friend wasn't all too ecstatic about the situation.

I'm not saying that online relationships are always doomed to fail, but that should the relationship remain solely internet-based and you never get to meet the person, it won't end well.
I've heard many a tale of people meeting through WoW or other games and getting married eventually because of that. And honestly, that sounds awesome.

Do the same rules apply to people who met in another way but then went on to play mmo's together? :lol:

Vix: That's also awesome. I would love a girlfriend to play WoW with xD

I've been in them, and I try to avoid them. It's because I know more than likely I won't meet this person and it just leaves me yearning for a physical relationship. It's tough for me.

I really have nothing against online relationships, because I have been in some before. I don't do it anymore, though.
I have been in an online relationship before, and it lasted for about 13 months.
But-- he lived in Australia, and I am all the way in the states.
I loved talking to him, but he started to get on less frequently.
I did, as well, because of school. Our hours just didn't match up at all,
and we found ourselves barely even talking to each other now.
Then, I started to fall for one of my best friends from school.
Anyways, I really enjoyed talking to Max, but there was something missing.
I didn't to see him, [and I doubt I ever will] and I really like being able to spend time with someone in real life. Holding hands, being to see places with them.
So... Max and I remain to be just online pals now. When we rarely get the chance to talk, that is.

I have had a few online relationships. Mainly because I'm very socialy awkward so meeting people in real life doesn't happen often for me lol. My 1st ever was with an American (I'm English) And we were friends for a while before we dated. We saw each other twice in real life, it was very hard when we were apart. But we spoke every second on MSN voice chat. We would wake up and call, and talk till we both fell asleep (and still be on voice chat) we dated for about 8 months (I think) it ended because he turned into a jerk, but that happens with people who live near you too. My second didn't really last, we just clashed, but again, that happens. I met my last boyfriend online too but lucky for me he lived in the next town so it wasn't long distance. We lasted 4 years (broke up 2 months ago) And my current boyfriend lives in Holland, and though it is very close, it's the hardest one yet! Love happens if you let it! I think the internet is a wonderful thing but obviously you do have to be careful! My best friend's sister met her bf online and they have been together for years and are getting married in a few months!
People are always going to treat it as this scary, wrong thing for anyone to do! But it's not for everyone. My advice is, if it's not for you, don't do it! :p Just always be careful obviously. My parents think everyone from the net are murderers, but so could everyone from real life be :p

I am in one now actally, we have been together for a year on april 20th, we met on facebook though a friend and we have met in person 3 times, about to be 4 times as of this saturday, (2days) he is staying at my house for 8 days =3

Personally, I'm not interested in online mingling because I like the physical connection as much as the emotional connection, but hey, if it works for you then cool. Just be safe and never meet up with anyone if it's not in a public area! :)