In recent years it has become increasingly popular to develop new relationships online. Whether you're looking for acquaintances to chat with, to make life-long friends or even just to do a little flirting online the internet presents a wide world of possibilities.
Online Dating and Friend Finding Communities:
The most well known ways to meet others on the net are through friend finding or online dating services that help to match you with other likeminded people. Through these sites you will often be introduced to others who you share a great deal in common with and at much more rapid pace than you are likely be able to do otherwise.
Though some people still shy away from online dating, or friend finding, the results of such matchmaking are hard to ignore. Accounts of real success stories can be read all over the internet and are often predicted to have more lasting results than the relationships made through traditional methods. An excellent place for those who are little fearful to start is to read what others have to say about their communities through popular forums or online dating reviews.
It is often those individuals who are completely honest when creating their profiles that enjoy the most successful matchups. Though there certainly are those who choose to treat online relationships as fictitious ones, millions of people have found truly amazing friends and loved ones by connecting with the expansive reach that such a method offers.
Online Gaming and Relationship Building:
Dating sites aren't the only virtual meeting grounds for those looking to meet others. Online games, often referred to as MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role playing game), RPG or MMO are also becoming increasingly popular places for people to meet. Though initially a lot of the appeal in these games was restricted to the younger set, many adults have become familiar with the worlds they encompass and found that the communities within can be exciting for people of all ages.
Though a game in itself may not be designed specifically to be a dating RPG, the structures created within the virtual world often offer an exciting meeting ground in which very real relationships are formed. Whether the appeal is from fighting enemies with friends, trading with new acquaintances or sitting your character down in a beautiful setting for a little private dating chat, the outcome is often that real relationships are formed.
As difficult as it may to understand initially, playing a game in which real life issues exist quickly allows you to determine the kind of person with whom you are interacting. When the game itself involves such complex issues as a working economy, trading and bartering, group discussions (such as in guilds, kingdoms or towns,) and working with others towards common goal the real life personality traits a person possesses become quickly apparent.
Representing Yourself Online:
Whether you choose to join an online community through a social site or a gaming world how you choose to represent yourself will have an enormous impact on the responses you receive from other members.
When creating a profile for yourself it is vital that you express those traits which you have come to value in yourself. Remember that you should NEVER reveal any personal information which would enable others to find out who you really are, where you live or how to contact you in a profile. Only when you become absolutely comfortable and enough time has passed should you begin the process of maneuvering your online relationship into your offline one.
Pictures, avatars and signatures often reveal a great deal about a person. Choosing the right images will allow others a peek into your personality and a clue as to whether or not you might share some common interests.
Writing down some important likes and dislikes won't often prove to be too difficult a task, but trying to describe your personality can be a bit tricky for some. It often helps to enlist the aid of a close friend or family member who can help you to decide which aspects of your personality and life best represent you as a whole.
The connections shared by people are often found in the details that might be easily overlooked. Remember to include your interests and passions so that others can really get to know you. In many cases a relationship may be sparked by something as small as a shared favorite book, movie or even musical group, so don't leave out anything that could lead you to some wonderful relationships.
False and Misleading Impressions:
As in the unplugged world, the online communities play host to some people who prefer to make a game out of meeting new friends. For your physical safety, as well as your emotional you would do well to watch for any signs of false behavior. In most cases, should such a thing occur the worst you will suffer is feeling a little embarrassed or possibly hurt feelings. However in some extreme cases you may find that an obsessive or dangerous person lurks on the other side of that virtual connection. Because such dangers do exist, though often rarely, you must protect yourself by not taking any actions which could allow that person access to your life.
Many people are careful enough not to include street addresses, employment information or even phone numbers when speaking to a relative stranger online, but as time passes you may begin to feel that you can trust the person and become lax with your information. Those who find themselves in romantic relationships are even inclined to send revealing photos of themselves as a form of flirting. Above all else you must remember that any information you send out, you cannot get back. This information could be used to embarrass or even harm you; be selective about how you choose to communicate.
Common Online Lingo:
When chat is your only form of communication, a misspelled word or poorly punctuated sentence may easily be misunderstood. Proper grammar, however, will not be the only necessary component to enjoying successful chat. Many people use alternative spellings or abbreviations to chat online and though these may sometimes vary from group to group it is important that you know some of the basics before entering into a chat with another person.
- rofl: rolling on the floor laughing – used to express extreme humor
- lol: laugh out loud – expressing humor
- a/s: age/sex – often used at initial meetings or group chat rooms
- noob: new at a game or in a community – though not always sometimes used in a derogatory fashion
for people who do not yet understand how a game or community operates.
- pix: pictures or photos
- woot: woohoo or happy exclamation – expressing excitement or joy about something
- bb4n: bye bye for now – parting words or saying goodbye
- d8: date
- goi: get over it – attempt to change topic, show irritation or dismissal
- diy: do it yourself
- l8r: later – parting words, very casual
- 1tl: one true love
- wb: write back
- plz: please
- ty: thank you
- w4u: wait(ing) for you
- gtg: got to go: needing to leave or log out
- vh: virtual hug – expressing a form a physical affection virtually
- oci: oh I see – confirming that something is understood, or has been revealed
- x: often used instead of ex
- dkdc: don't know, don't care – expressing disinterest
- 143: I Love You
With cursing:
- wtf: what the f___ - expressing confusion
- lmao: laughing my a__ off – used to express extreme humor
- bfd: big f______ deal – expressing that something either is or is not a big deal (often used ironically.)
Choosing to join any online community can be a rewarding experience that allows you to connect with others from just about anywhere. Remember to keep yourself safe, but also to allow others to see the parts of your personality that make unique. With a little luck and planning you may find that a world of friends and romantic interests is right at your fingertips, so let the fun begin!
Other Articles You May Enjoy |
|
|
|
| |
|
