I like the Internet.

I find it much easier to talk to people online, and be open with them. You would find me a far more guarded person should you ever meet me than I appear online.

But after reading slurpie’s journal entry today, it got me thinking.

The same things that make Internet friendships easier can also make them more complicated.

The fact that you can’t be seen, your reactions go unnoticed and that you can hide away from the world can make life much easier.

But look at it from the other side.

When I am feeling down or anti-social, I tend to either disconnect, or more often that not set all my chat programs to invisible. I also tend to be less talkative and make a lot less effort should I get noticed and approached by anyone.

It only just hit me now, that to me those actions are because I can’t be bothered, yet to the other person they can be devastating.

The other person can be left feeling they have done something wrong, or done something to upset me.

I know I have found this myself, if someone doesn’t want to talk; my first reaction is to question what I have done to upset them.

This side of online friendships is much harder than it would be if the people knew each other in “real” life.

Not only do you put on a front and make an effort if you come into actual contact with other people, but they can judge your emotions from your face, body language, tone of voice, or all three.

Online all you have is a blank screen, feelings of inadequacy, and if you don’t feel too great yourself that day, a feeling of disappointment, emptiness and loneliness.

I have felt all of those things when I am having a bad day online and people are caught up in offline problems and either can’t or don’t want to talk.

Now I realise how my actions could be perceived. Or realised how much it can hurt, when you think you’ve done something to upset someone, when in reality they are just trying to deal with something.

I think I’m going to have to make more of an effort, and remember if I’m noticed, I need to put on a front and make an effort online as well as off.

*sigh*

This whole relationship thing and social interaction is very complicated isn’t it?