Slightly Morbid

[kitkatz]

https://slightlymorbid.com/

Slightly Morbid?
In Western society today, it is considered slightly morbid to think about death, tragedy, disaster, and other major things that can go wrong.
That doesn't stop these things from happening.
In 2008 a very dear friend that I only know online disappeared. No posts on the forum I knew him from. No posts to other places I knew to look for him. No sign of him online anywhere. We feared the worst. This caused a flurry of discussion among several of us who missed him:
“If something happened to me, who would tell my online friends?”
“Who would even know who my online friends are? How would they find them?”
I'm delighted to say our friend returned after a few months safe and sound, but the questions that came up are still very valid.
In the history of the world, this is a fairly new problem. It's only been in the last few years that it has become common to have good friends you've never actually met face to face. Online games and forums give us access to people who share our interests, ideals, and sense of humor who might live across the United States or even in another country. These relationships can be as real as any you have with your next door neighbor or your office mate. Maybe more real because you have more in common than just geographic location or employer.

[Vicky]

this is so true.  in this world things have changed and we can have more and better friends on line then we do face to face and when we don't see them when we expect to we worry.  Until you've gotten comfortable to the point of actually exchanging phone numbers or other personal information we don't know what is going on until they log on again.

For a very long time I was part of the MSN Gaming Zone as a sysop and we all forged very tight friendships.  most of us knew each others phone numbers and in some case addresses.  we met face to face at gathering or so and so was traveling through your area and you got to meet them in your home or their home.

One of our friends lived in England and happened to be in a video chat with another sysop when he suddenly stopped talking, luckily they were on webcam and she could see him sitting in the chair still.  It took a few minutes but she was able to contact 911 in his area because she knew where he lived.  he's had a heart attack sitting there.  that knowledge and friendship saved his life.  It was very emotional when he finally had a chance to come to the states and meet her.

I met a gal from Austraulia who came over for one of the gatherings and on her flight back from Nashville to California one of the engines failed on their plane they had to circle for 45 minutes to get enough fuel off so they could safely land.  They threw them right on another plane and got them to California, I guess so quickly so they would not get to the point they would not get on a plane again.  By the time she got to California she had many many messages from all of us waiting for her.  She was able to call me back because I had an 800 line at the time.  we talked forever until she had to board to go back to Austraulia.

Those life lines we have on the computer are just as important as personal face to face friendships and family especially when we have so much in common.  Friends on line become family in life forever.

[rose1999]

I just came across this as I was printing out all the nice and supportive things you have said in response to my post about my Dad (to take to the hospital to show him) and realised it is so true.  You are all real people to me (I mean I know you are real but I feel as if I know you) I picture you when I read your posts, I even read them in your accents (in my head, not out loud  )  and I hate it when anyone disappears.  I'm often too scared to ask what's happened to people and I dread opening a post about someone who has been missing a while to find bad news.  When someone dies I find it so hard, Suzie died not long after I'd joined but already she'd made such an impression on me that I felt her loss so badly, I felt physically sick and shaky.  Many of you will have felt it so much worse because you'd known her for longer and many had actually met her.  Others who have passed since then have also shocked and saddened me, it truly is like losing family

 

-Those life lines we have on the computer are just as important as personal face to face friendships and family especially when we have so much in common. Friends on line become family in life forever.

I couldn't agree more.  I can pour my heart out to you all about my deepest fears, I have no-one here that I could do that to. I treasure each and every one of you,even those I don't always agree with. 

[paris]

I agree, Rose.  You are all my real friends and I share more here than I do with those I see day to day.   We all have fallen in love with your Dad and are always anxious to know how he is doing.   You are a special lady and we love you, dearly!