Do you have more real friends or virtual friends?

According to your definition, I have more real friends. I’m a pretty cautious person on the internet, and generally my social network friend list only includes friends that I have already known in real life. My only source of virtual friends is this site, which doesn’t help the virtual friend number much.

Actually once upon a time I had more friends on this site than in real life, but then my real life support system just grew.

And what is Trump doing here among the tags?

I have one friend who calls and/or emails me constantly. But I have dozens of “old” friends on Facebook who I knew in high school. And a couple dozen Facebook friends I’ve never met. Many of them also know my high school friends. So I’m too stupid to answer the question. If you had asked, “how many friends do you talk to on the phone?” I’d say one ; two if you include my daughter. I had three phone friends but one died.

My virtual friends are real friends.

@Seek Then why would you still distinguish them as virtual friends?

I am with you on that @Aster many of my college buddies have morphed into virtual friends and a few of my internet virtual friends have morphed into real friends as I assume @Seek meant in her answer.

I’m older, so most of friends are “in person” friends. I definitely have some virtual friendships that I cherish, and someday I would love to have physical coffee with them in person.

I’m not quick to call someone a friend, but there are people I am on good terms with and I would gladly talk with them whenever I have the chance, ‘net or real life.

There is only one person I can truly call a friend without a second thought, and she falls into the “real life” category.

When it comes to the ‘net, there are some people here I have been in contact with outside the threads, and I am in good terms with them. There is three of them, so I guess I could list them as virtual friends, or at least buddies.

dunno about you, but I see a difference between a friend and a buddy. And yes, I am not very social.

Real mates by far.
Internet friends can’t possibly compete because, no eye contact, no hugging, no in ya face interaction means that’s always going to be the inherent difference.

I have very few friends that I only know through the internet. However a lot of my friends are people that I originally knew “in person” but haven’t seen in ages (for one reason or another) and we now communicate virtually.

About an equal number and I cherish and give time to them all. And some virtuals have become real lifes after I had the fortune to meet them.

I didn’t? Your question did.

Real friends. Since the early days of the internet, I’ve had a vow to myself – don’t let computer time take the place of life experiences, and don’t substitute virtual friends for face-to-face friends.

This isn’t to say that I don’t value and cherish some virtual pals, including a number of Jellies. And, as @anniereborn mentions, the current technology makes it easy to maintain long-distance friendships and family relationships.

@Seek I have stared at your answer here for more than a few nano seconds and still struggling to get to the crux of the meaning and or intent of your answer?????

She meant that she was only distinguishing between virtual and real life friends in her answer because you did in the question.

I’d say real friends if we are defining friends as people who I would move heaven and earth for if they needed me.

I have a few hundred facebook friends, many of them I like very much, most of them I have had at least a brush with in real life.

I would say there are about 20 core friends here on fluther, a few I communicate with outside of fluther. I consider them friends. I’d love to meet them in person. One jelly I have met. Also, Auggie I knew in high school, but I haven’t seen her since I was 16.

I have a lot of “virtual” friends. Many are people who I am friends with through astronomy circles, and others through social networks like this one. Not all of them are “real” friends. Some virtual friends, however, are real friends. The distinction I make is who would I feel comfortable inviting to stay at my house.

Sorry @janbb 6 hours later still scratching my head

Are you actually confused?

You asked a question about distinguishing virtual friends from real friends. I replied that i basically don’t separate them. My internet friends are real friends. I don’t consider them “less important” than people I’ve had the opportunity to meet in real life.

Yes @Seek Been a long day. Your recent answer still does not compute with what you wrote…
I asked… Do you have more real friends or virtual friends?

you answered…

I didn’t? Your question did.

???? O_0

No, my answer was “my virtual friends are real friends” then you asked me why I distinguish them. And I said I don’t, but your question asked about the distinction.

This is tiring. Fuck it. Be confused.

No @Seek Your answer was not “my virtual friends are real friends” it was “I didn’t? Your question did.” My question was very basic sorry you find it so difficult to answer coherently.

Um…

@Seek Sorry…I get it now…I too have many old “real” friends that still exist in my life by the virtual world of Facebook and the likes and visa versa. Like I said long long day….

No worries, bro. It’s been a doozie for me, too. About a month into this work at home gig and they’re letting me handle angry customers now. It’s a special kind of fun for someone with my particular brand of anxiety.

@Seek You would be my first choice for handling my angry customers….best part is you get paid set them straight! Woo hoo!