How to Make New Friends In A New Place On The Internet

While much has been made of the need to keep people meeting people face to face, there is another truth and that is that there are new ways of communicating. People commit more and more of their time and energy towards online endeavors these days and whether the Internet is a place you go to chat after (or during) a long day at work or if you actually run your business online, there are ways to make friends in the virtual world as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• computer
• online access

How To Make New Friends In A New Place On The Internet

1. While much has been made of the need to keep people meeting people face to face, there is another truth and that is that there are new ways of communicating. People commit more and more of their time and energy towards online endeavors these days and whether the Internet is a place you go to chat after (or during) a long day at work or if you actually run your business online, there are ways to make friends in the virtual world as well.
2. Social Networking Websites: Using social networking sites like myspace and especially Facebook will enable you to identify people who live in an area. This is great when you’re out in the big, bad world all alone because you can find folks who have similar interests to you, who live in your area. After that initial courtship you can introduce yourself to interesting looking individuals and strike up a conversation before you even know who they are!
3. eHow – How To Do Just About Everything (Including Making Friends!): While social networking sites, chat rooms, and discussion boards are great, they may also end you up in a kitchen hundreds of miles from your home sipping Sweet Tea with Chris Hansen. So to avoid that end there are even better places where the educated few loiter. Maybe you have been lucky enough to have met one of the fabulous writers on a site like eHow. If you like someone’s writing style and you’ve gotten into impassioned blog posts with this person and you already feel like you’ve shared real world discussions, arguments, and ideas then this is a perfect platform towards real world, off line friendship.
4. Move It Out: However getting online and chatting can get addictive (plus if you talk with someone online for too long, they may begin to question your sanity) Before it reaches that tipping point you should meet in person. While getting together may not be the easiest thing in the world, the rewards from face to face contact, being able to shake someone’s hand, hear someone’s voice, laugh, and whisper, and look them in the eye all at once is a great way to tie up this connection.
5. Breakaway: If finding friends online is not working and is getting too frustrating then perhaps it’s a good idea to head out to a local tavern. If the strain from not finding “the right” friends is getting you down, you shouldn’t exacerbate that problem by getting all bent out of shape about it. Better to just set down your keyboard and belt out that Kelly Clarkson before things get really saucy!

Tips & Warnings

• remember the objective
• visit social networking sites
• meet up!
• don't make yourself crazy
• don't sent naked pictures of yourself
• if you see sweet tea, RUN!