A few questions to ponder.......

• How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?
  
  
• Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?  
  
  
• Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?  
  
  
• Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?
  
  
• Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?
  
  

ooooooh good topic BB!!

How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?

i dont know if i "know" them.....but i feel close to them

Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?  

im afraid not....i occasionally mention that ive learned tips on hair care from the net but not that i belong to boards.....its silly but i worry that theyll think im a "saddo" for spending so much time on hair  :-[ im not! we are the coolest people around!

Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?  

maybe not refer to them as friends...but i definately consider them close friends....almost like a family  :)

Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?

no....and i dont think i ever will. you never truely "know" someone youve met online. its a scary world out there

Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?

sometimes...not *really* personal stuff but yeah. if its in a journal its like talking to yourself......but its also nice to get advice and stuff (sometimes its easier not to be face to face with someone you personally know when asking advice...its impartial that way)

Yes to the first three and no to the last two.  I'd like to meet some though.

I feel quite close to many but it hasn't always been an easy or quick road.  Many arguements and clarifications and a lot of time and perserverance has been required for the good ones...g

I do feel like I know you folks, and you're all my lurvely friends :D :D but I seldom tell people I visit "long hair support boards". I've told my guy, my 2 other best friends, and .. that's it.

LisaJaney (pillowcase lady) visits my town all the time and we plan to get together for coffee sometime.

um....

and yes, I share lots of info as long as nobody can identify me by it.

Interesting topic!

Anais

That's so funny BB, this is kind of like a "secret society"!  One that I oddly look forward to every day, in fact it's usually the first thing I do once I get to work!  So here are my thought on the whole thing:

*How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?  
-Yes, I am starting to feel like I know some of the people personally, especially the frequent posters.  I am still a fairly new member, but I have been reading all the old posts as well as the new, and it makes me feel like I have a connection and a common thread with all of you, and it so amazing to think that we are from all different walks of life (from all over the world!), and we are able to come together through one common interest.  

*Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?  
-Heck no!  This is my secret little happy place!  

*Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?  
-I actually, technically, don't "refer" to them since I don't talk about them to anyone (secret happy place, remember?).  But I do think of all of you as my friends, you are all so kind and helpful!

*Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?
-No, I have never really talked to anyone that I don't know online before.  But I do know of two couples who met online and married! (does that count?)

*Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?
-Just mostly my thoughts on hair so far, but it is a more comfortable scenario to open up and just let the thoughts flow than is talking to someone you know sometimes.  I feel like I am not judged here, and I feel like I can ask anything and chances are someone else out there can relate to me on some level and will offer their thoughts and advice.  That's why I love to come here, *seceret* it not always about the hair, but the companionship!

:)

wrote on Nov 4^th, 2004 at 6:25pm:

A few questions to ponder....... How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards? I do consider you all friends. Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?   Not many, but I used to work as a hair stylist and the fact that I visit "hair boards" doesn't seem to surprise anyone. Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?   When I'm at home, I'll sometimes say something about one of my "hair friends". Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online? Never. Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?

No, not really.  I'm a pretty private person so unless it pertains to hair in some way, you probably won't get much out of me.  But I do think that by having dialogue with other people about something we love (our hair) that sometimes that reveals more about us than if we were actually talking about ourselves.

This is a very comfortable place to "be".

Hi :)

I would like to meet you all personally, but you are still my friends!

Yes, i admit I visit here. some people think it is "creepy" but that is THEIR problem!

We are here to support each other! ::)

Longhaired hugs and prayers,

Manegirl ;D

Let people say what they want, there is absolutely nothing creepy about people having a common interest and getting together to share advice and compliments with each other.  I never actually set out looking for a "hair support group", you know, it is a place that I stumbled upon, began reading the posts and getting lots of useful information, and then decided that I wanted to be a part of it all, too.  I felt like I had some information that I could share, too...and lots of questions to ask.  Since I became a member, my hair is never the same two days in a row, I have learned about a dozen different ways of pulling my hair up, and tricks on washing, and curling, too!  When you have a day that you just feel like you look good, and things are in place, that can ultimately affect your entire attitude and outlook on the day.  Have you ever had a bad hair day and it just puts you in the worst of moods for the entire day?  I know I have.  So, if it takes something as silly as a nice hair-do to help me through my day, so be it...nothing wrong with that!  I think we can all agree!  So, anyway...I guess my point is......SO WHAT! ;D  Let's all have good hair days and happiness, and let those who might laugh walk around with "bird's nests" on their heads!  Whew!  Where did all that come from?!

Long haired hugs & prayers to you too, Manegirl :D!

I think of everyone as friends. I have told my father and brother about this board and they think it is pretty cool  8) they like my long hair and am glad I have someone else besides them to discuss my locks with.  ;)

I'm a pretty private person and I am very careful what I post on boards :-X, not because I worry about the members themselves but you never know who is lurking. :o I had a bad experience when I was new to the internet and gave away too much information to someone (another woman) who was very creepy and threatening. I was lucky that she lost interest in me on her own (either that or she ended up incarerated or something  ::) ). Inspite of that scary experience I have met some people that I keep in contact with off line by phone and cards and someday may see in real life. :)

'How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards? '
I feel like I know a lot of people I have met online.  Some of them I consider close friends.  
 

'Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards? '
My partner knows I visit these boards.  Every time he sees me on the computer he swears I'm looking up something about hair, and he likes to tell our friends that this is what I spend my time doing.  If I am talking about hair with someone, I'll tell them that I spend time on hair boards.  


'Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them? '
Oftentimes yes.  Sometimes they really are my friends, and even if I don't know them that well, I'd rather tell someone that a friend of mine recommended something vs. explaining that it is someone I know online.   I don't want everyone to know I'm a freak.  :o)


'Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?'
I don't think so, but will as soon as I can visit Canada.  

'Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?'
Yes and no.  When I'm with friends and family in real life I want to do fun activities, not talk about depressing things like bad hair days.  But I'm not going to share something w/ someone online that I couldn't talk to them in person about.  

How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?  
-I feel like I really have gotten to know people from forums. Most of my closest and dearest friends are people I have gotten to know over forums actually, although I am always careful of who I talk to and I'm never quick to give out information to someone unless I've known them for a decent amount of time and they seem trustworthy.

Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?  
-Yes, so much so in fact that all of my real life friends tend to go to most of the same forums I do. My family knows my screen name and the screen names of everyone I talk to, and the sites that I go to and what those sites are about. We're a real computer centered household.

Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?  
-All the time. I often make phone calls to my internet friends and write letters as well. Over time we get to know everyone and become close. I have some internet friends who seem closer than family.

Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?
-Not in person yet, but I am planning a get together in the coming months (if I have the money to that is).

Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?
-Sometimes. My closer internet pals are people that I can call when I need someone to cry to or turn to. Dissapointments, love problems, nightmares, they've heard it all from me.

How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?
i met several people from other boards i've been visiting for years. i even met my bf through someone i knew from a board! of course with this one i've the problem most people live far away.

Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?
i haven't seen my family yet since i joined this one but i hope they will at least notice i did  ;D
and my bf knows of course lol. he was very sceptical about the co washing lol. i am still trying to talk him into it (he has short curly hair and hates his curls so he puts tons of silicone john frieda stuff in it)

Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?  well yes, in case i did meet them lol.  but i don't really talk about the other ones i think (unless there's one that is seriously sicko but i don't think it applies to anyone in here).

Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?
several. next sunday i'am having dinner with the first two internet people i've met in real. it always makes me think back of that first excitement lol.

Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?
yes. i might not have done it in here cuze irrelevant but i certainly have with others in the past. i was also in a very bad fase in those years. right now i am ok and don't feel the need anymore to whine about my past problems. i have new ones of course but i have a bf now to whine to ;D

I do consider people I have met to be friends.  However, I stick to one (now, two) message boards and really get to "know" the people there.  I think it takes time, just like meeting people in person, but it is a different sort of friendship.  

I have met several people from on-line, but, again, from one message board where friendships had grown over years.

I do call them my "friends" to other people.

I probably do not share as much on line because of privacy, etc.

Lynn  ;)

[The content of this post was deleted by the moderators, but left in place due to the number of responses]

Heehee, you must be the Nigerian guy with a million dollars to offer. ;D

Judging by the fact that he responded to a post of mine on another thread where I mentioned silk-lined hats, his business deal involves the export of silk-lined hats?

Oooh, that would be cool. ;) If only that were the case. ;D

I think his business is 'monkey business'.  ;)

Maybe monkeys with silk hats? :D

OOOH! I'd buy one! ;D

• How many of you feel you *know* people personally as a result of visiting this and other message boards?
  I don't know any of you,here, yet, because I haven't been either lurking or posting all that much. But I *know* relatively well some people from another board I used to frequent
  
  
• Do you admit to your real life friends and family that you visit these boards?
  Sometimes,if the topic arises, yes. I am not ashamed of that!  
  
  
• Do you refer to your internet acquaintances as friends, as though you have actually met or talked to them?
  Sometimes  
  
  
• Have you ever met a person face to face that you "met" online?
  Of course!! I have made friendships that still last, with people I met online. I have also made recently another friendship that I hope will last, too. I know 5 couples that even got married after having met online. No b*llsh*t!!
  
  
• Do you share information about yourself or your feelings that you wouldn't dare share with an acquaintance in real life?
  I share feelings I would share with friends irl too. I don't believe in the *mask of anonymity* that the net provides. From the time you go *public* on the net, I believe you are not truly anonymous anymore, if someone dedicated enough comes along.