Friendship

Today while driving with my Mom to a little party, we were discussing our excitement for the big move to Arizona (which will be at the end of March ). She then started to talk about how she has told none of her staff at her job or any of our relatives about our decision to leave. She asked me if I had told anyone, specifically my friend Ashmo. I only have a small handful of friends that live here and that I actually talk to and hang out with. I told her that I have not told them yet . . . but that I had told many of my deviantART friends. She started with "I meant real friends...", but then corrected herself and went with "I mean friends that you're actually connected with, that you actually go out with." All I could do was look at her in disbelief and then listen as she went on about other things. While at the party, I thought about making this journal . . . and about friendship.

A thought always lingered in my head ever since mentioning my online friends to my Mom. She's very skeptical about them being "real" friends. Though she is aware I spend lots of time on the computer talking with them and that I even received lovely gifts and cards from some of them, she does not view them the same as the friends I have here. The thought was this: Does one have to actually be in the physical presence of another to be considered friends? To be considered close or to know one another?

I don't believe you have to. Through deviantART, I have been able to make amazing friends whom I care about a lot. Every time we get to talk, we get to know each other more and learn new things about each other, about our cultures, and develop wonderful friendships. And just like with friends offline, you can butt heads, laugh at silly things, have pointless conversations, and be there for each other.

I often hear the phrase "Internet friends are not real friends" and it really hurts to think that some people can't seem to understand that you can make connections with others no matter how far apart you may be. And the more I think of it, the more I seem to dislike the terms "online friend" or "real life friend". I just want to say "friend" because whether they live down the street or across the ocean, they are still my friend.

In a world where millions of people now have the ability to talk with people in other countries instantly with the power of the Internet, it just seems strange to me that people wouldn't view an "online friend" the same as a "real life friend". There are couples and even married people who originally met via the Internet.

So, when exactly did it become a requirement to have to be physically close to a person to be friends with them? Not that I would never want to meet my friends here on deviantART in person. That is a dream of mine! But it doesn't make them any less my friends. I treasure my friends here. They make me happy and help me through tough times. And I want to be there for them just like they are for me. And even though I can not physically touch them, I will continue to shower them with virtual hugs!

SO, TELL ME...WHO ARE YOUR DEAR FRIENDS THAT YOU HAVE MADE VIA deviantART OR ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB?

GO TELL THEM HOW AWESOME A FRIEND THEY ARE. OR MAKE THEM A THOUGHTFUL NOTE/GIFT. OR SPAM THEIR PAGE WITH LOVE!

A Shout-Out To All My deviantART Friends!

Nee-to | happy-gurl | Sailor-Pikmin | I-is-smart | TimmehMonster | Ricsmond | litecrush | Pixacious | IceXDragon | OnionBlaze

otohime0394 | MarmiteRevolution | Web5teR | cality | dhik-a | Nice-Spice | admx | jadecillustrations | 8-bitCoffee | JamminJo | Kerubimu | EternalxRequiem | Xcetera | SAVALISTE | Caedy | Phlum | Steph1254 | bradleysays | lightpurge | claremanson | Yukiko-berrie | Ridley126 | Mirz123 | riccassley | SparklyDest | pixiepot | chrsfaria | yarjor | Krissi001 | nikkittie | eevee1767 | ootamukun | AreteEirene | Emerald-Depths | BitterBeanJuicer | imnotsana | Arichy | CaptainChibi | ArtByCher | jvsef | hiddendelights | FallenUmbrella | TiaVon | FlirtingWithInsanity | Solarune | Fozzymillow

_{And if we talk often & I missed you...feel free to slap me}