What has surprised you the most about your experiences since joining Fluther?
Over 5 years ago a friend of mine encouraged me to join Fluther because of the positive experiences she had as a member. Although I had never been part of a Q&A community, after exploring your digs, I decided it would be good for me, too. My first question, an innocent one so I thought, reminded me that innocent intentions are meaningless if it involves balls, zippers, or anything a prepubescent boy can spin into something nasty.
What has surprised me the most about my Fluther experience? In some cases, there’s been little separation between virtual and actual relationships in terms of how I feel about people who’ve come and gone, who’ve shared with compassion and criticism, and those whose lives have been on display without any concern about outside perceptions. In other words, I’ve experienced virtual and actual people as the same. And, it’s surprised me to feel all sorts of feelings regarding virtual people I’ve never met, as well as people I’ve not chatted with in over 5 years.
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The very deep connections I’ve made with several people here – some of whom I’ve later met in real life and some of whom I’ve only met on the page. The deaths of a few of my virtual friends grieved me as much or more than some of my RL connections.
I really think I have made real friends that I would have never thought would happen on a web site. I have met several people here in real life and they are every bit the people I thought they would be. I have talked to some on the phone for hours and made that kind of connection too.
As @janbb said, the deaths of some of the people from Fluther has grieved me and I still think of them as I would a friend in real life.
This is the only group of people in the entire world that think I am actually good at Photoshop.
My love of cookies and comics does make people here politely change the subject as they nervously search for an exit.
That I know of.
^ ...does not make people…
It’s been how upset I have been upon hearing sad news here. One day I heard a dear member passed away and I cried all day. I have no idea why. I must ‘need a life’ as she would say! That is why I loved her so much.
I’ve also been guilty of saying ‘Oh, they are not real friends they are internet friends’, but in context, they can be very real and furthermore a simple sentence can, in fact, be life-changing.
My very first question was a cry for help and ten years or so on, I not only moved continents but I’ve changed professions and all sorts. Wow, how we can grow or change.
I’m surprised too, that I stuck around so long!
Same as @CWOTUS! No surprises other than that..)
The real life friendships that have grown out of the virtual ones that I have established here. I really value all of those people, and even those I have not met IRL.
That I am remembered from question to question.
TBH, that I’m here. Being the opposing side in almost all political and religious discussions, I’m a minority in this venue, which intrigues me. I also really love seeing liberals here on this site, versus liberals in other parts of the US, some very interesting differences based on geography.
I’m surprised about how much many of us care about people we’ve never met.
Look how frequently people share deeply personal information to total strangers – and feel better for it.
This place has made me a better, more open man.
As quite a private person I am surprised at how much I have shared with Fluther over the years.
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