| A few years ago a surprising survey discovered that | | | | believe you are supported by any of the people in |
| people who spent a lot of time on the Internet were | | | | your everyday life. |
| a lot lonelier than people who didn't spend much time | | | | Your Internet friends may find it easy to offer you |
| on the Net. | | | | support and encouragement because they will never |
| This was an unexpected find because many people | | | | have to back up their typed words with any real |
| view the Internet and e-mail as a great way to make | | | | action or commitment. Talk is cheap, and supportive |
| and keep connections with other people. | | | | talk on the Internet may or may not be sincerely |
| So what is the truth? Does spending time on the | | | | offered. |
| Internet actually make people more lonely? | | | | It's true that some relationships that start off on the |
| Or did this study simply show that people who are | | | | Internet will develop into long term on-line friendships |
| already lonely spend a lot of time on the Net? As | | | | that last decades, even if the two correspondents |
| happens so often, the technology itself is neutral; | | | | never meet in person. And in some cases these |
| whether it is good or bad depends on how the | | | | on-line relationships will also successfully transform |
| technology is used. | | | | into friendships in the off-line world. |
| The day can fly by very quickly when you spend | | | | But the kind of interaction you get on the Internet |
| time on the Internet, whether you are looking for | | | | lacks some of the most important aspects of a |
| information, or visiting a chat room. Using the | | | | friendship--the interaction with a real live human |
| Internet, you can easily find people who share the | | | | person. You don't get to experience a friend's face |
| same obscure interests you may have, such as | | | | light up with a smile because he is happy to see you. |
| raising Abyssinian cats, or studying Florentine | | | | You don't get to take part in shared activities, and |
| tapestries. | | | | develop a history together. You don't have someone |
| Through the Internet you can find another person | | | | put their hand on yours as you exchange |
| who is struggling with an illness or problem similar to | | | | confidences. |
| yours, and who understands exactly what you are | | | | You don't even know that your Internet friend is |
| going through. | | | | really who he claims he is! You don't know beyond a |
| The vastness and the speed of the Internet means | | | | shadow of a doubt that anything your on-line friend |
| you can hook up instantly with people on the other | | | | says about himself is true. |
| side of the world and have lengthy conversations | | | | Although the Internet is a unique and useful means |
| with them about intimate matters you have never | | | | of communication between people, don't use it as a |
| discussed with anyone else. | | | | complete substitute for live social contact. Balance |
| The anonymity of the Internet can be a | | | | your on-line activities with activities that involve |
| double-edged sword. You can feel safe revealing | | | | meeting and interacting with real live people in your |
| your innermost self to a total stranger because he | | | | local community. |
| lives five thousand miles away and you will probably | | | | Don't use the availability and ease of Internet |
| never meet him. | | | | relationships as an excuse to avoid some of the |
| You might believe you can tell him your innermost | | | | more difficult, yet ultimately more rewarding work of |
| thoughts, even those you can't tell your husband. | | | | developing relationships with the people you already |
| You may feel encouraged and supported by a | | | | have around you. |
| person you have met on-line in a way that you don't | | | | |