I suppose you can all figure out that I'm enraptured by the internet and all the possibilites. I have to admit, though, the anonymity works best when meeting new people, especially guys. My parents haunt me for this - "What if they're lying? How do you *know* they're guys?" - I mean, what the hell, does it matter? I'm not looking for a freaking relationship, for god's sake. It's so much easier talking to a nameless, faceless entity about personal problems than it would be with anyone I actually knew. I've accumulated a wealth of relevant information/guidance/input on my life and all my problems from these people, and all I can do to thank them is to cyber-shake their hand or something. So, a big shout out to all my e-friends. I love you all, and may you always be free from viruses.

I don't think I could ever fall in love with someone I met online unless I met him first. I guess my parent's warnings do get to me - I'm always cautious never to give away *too* much information. I could admire him and appreciate our conversations, but I could never let me feel anything but friendship and gratitude unless I could talk to him in person. One of the things I've always valued most in a relationship, whether with friends or guys, is being able to make eye contact. If there's no eye contact, there will always be a gulf, an awkwardness to the whole situation. Of course, I could always just get the other person to send me a picture through direct connect or something, but it seems rather inane and half-baked to gaze soulfully into a picture that ends with .jpg. It's like guys having sex with blowup dolls. Same principle.

Whee...well, gotta go to bed; I'll write more later.

~AF