I have run UrbanMoms for 8 years and for every single one of those 8 years there has been a part of the population who poo-poo the whole concept of connection online. These naysayers believe that “community” is not possible on the internet. That those of us who say “online friendships” are fooling ourselves, that friendships can only exist in person.
The support and love I received from people online was just as real and just as meaningful as the real life gestures.
The thing I’ve noticed is that most of these people don’t spend time online. They don’t read blogs and get invested in the author’s life. They hear things or read things and they judge out of fear and ignorance. One such person spent an hour lecturing me on the evils of Facebook and why he wouldn’t let his children get accounts (they both had profiles on the sly). He had never once been on Facebook.
When I wrote on my blog about my mom’s cancer and her journey until her death nearly 4 years ago the support and love I received from people online was just as real and just as meaningful as the real life gestures. Recently I watched this same sense of community spring to life online in a much bigger way as the city of Calgary reacted to the devastating floods in their city. They rallied together and so much of that was coordinated online.
Fun with my friends at Blue Mountain.
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of hosting many of the UrbanMoms bloggers and staff for The UrbanMoms Retreat at Blue Mountain near Collingwood, Ontario. Most of these folks I have met once or twice but a few of them I hadn’t. In fact, Amanda has written for UrbanMoms for close to 4 years and we had never met in person until this week. Did she feel like a friend? Absolutely!
I feel connected to this community and the people in it in a way I don’t with many people in real life.
I feel connected to this community and the people in it in a way I don’t with many people in real life. We share parts of our lives online that the hustle and bustle of our busy lives doesn’t allow us to share with many others. We are connected through a sense of common ground and a pride for our online home. We “get it” in a way that our offline friends don’t. We share something that only we, the UrbanMoms Team, can and that is something special.
I am so grateful for these friendships. We were like a group of old friends getting together after years away. We simply fell into a comfortable step together, laughing and talking and staying up far too late.
Just like old friends!
I know there are ugly things online. I see them everyday. But those people who avoid the internet or dismiss the value are missing out on an opportunity to share in some amazing relationships. Imagine having friends that you connect with almost daily scattered across the country (and often the world) of varying ages and circumstances? People you would never in a million years have had the opportunity to know? My world has expanded and I am definitely better for knowing them.
Do you have close friends you have met online?
*Group shot Photo Credit to the amazing Jennifer Gilbert
I’m totally new at the commenting part, in the past I’ve always just read and walk or roll my chair away how sad 🙁 for me that is ha, ha. I guess it’s all part of my feely touchy part of me, I love in person, took me a while for even the phone talking part of things, I know weird, weird person
I do! I have one friend who I have never met who sent the baby a hand-knit toy she made herself when he was born; she lives in the California and I’m sad we’ve never met in person.
i still haven’t met my two “pen-pals”…one is in houston and one is in b.c.
one of these days, tho’….it will be great!
Yes! I’ve connected with some really wonderful people online (usually work related or through association of another friend) but have never met in person. This Urbanmoms retreat is just one great example of social media done right! It was like getting together with old friends!
Professional networking for sure, Sonya. I totally agree. Even if you are not looking for “friendship”, connecting with others online opens up a massive opportunity to network.
This is so spot-on, Jen. I have forged many firm and lasting friendships with imaginary internets *snort* some of whom I’ve met in person, and others I have yet to meet… but it fascinates me. And it fills me up! And oh, how I love being part of this community – it’s good to be embraced by so many amazing people from across our great country! (And what a lovely pic – thank you Jennifer Gilbert!!)
I love that, Tracey – “It fills me up!” Me too 🙂
oh totally! My journey into online friendships began back in 2001 on BabyCenter.
I still remain close (as close as facebook can keep you) with many of my fellow BBC mamas. When Cuyler was getting diagnosed, even more friendships were forged online with people going through the same things I was.
As everyone moved over to facebook the friendships evolved and became more dynamic, as we were no longer just a screen name posting on a thread.
I remember online boards and chatrooms from nearly 14 years ago! It was the foundation but has evolved SO much.