Bloggers Can Be Friends Too

by Sam on April 16, 2009

I have written a lot about my friends, how awesome they are, and how I don’t know what I’d do without them. I’ve always believed that quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to friendship. There is no question in my mind that I would always choose a small group of close friends over a large group of people who I’m not as close with. My best friends are from across the country, and we met at different places and stages in our lives. Elementary school, middle school, high school, college, summer camp, summer program, internship. We have been roommates, suitemates, hallmates, and bunkmates. We have partied, laughed, cried, celebrated, consoled, traveled, danced, learned, and shopped together. I have countless wonderful memories with my friends, and I am so grateful to have them in my life.

Since I started blogging, tweeting, and networking across the Web 2.0 world, the concept of friendship has crossed my mind often. One common criticism of sites like Facebook and Myspace has been that they cause a disconnect between people, and prevent them from learning how to have real relationships with one another. This argument could definitely be made for teenagers, but as for us 20-somethings, I don’t think it applies. Blogging has allowed me to connect to some wonderful people who I may never have met otherwise.

I don’t consider myself “friends” with every person who reads my blog, but I love learning about people and finding out how much we have in common. I realize that forming an actual friendship takes more effort and requires one-on-one conversation, and I’ve been lucky enough to find that with a few special people. For example, without the digital world, I would never have known that a really awesome girl named Grace out in Colorado shares my love of reading, among other things, and we would have never started our online book club, Blogging Bookworms. And, I wouldn’t have gotten to know cool people from across the country (Chicago, Nashville, California) and across the world (Canada, Indonesia).

So, take advantage of the great big digital world that you’re lucky enough to be a part of. Make the extra effort to get to know some of your fellow bloggers. You never know, it just might blossom into a wonderful friendship!

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Tagged as: bloggers, friendship

  • So true, so true.

    It's all about making and establishing connections. During my time blogging (almost 8 yrs or so) I've seen tons of people come and go, but there's been a few bloggers that I've been fortunate enough to become friends with. I haven't met any of these people in "real life," but that doesn't matter. It's all about sharing mutual interests, be it fantasy football, pro-wrestling, or Ghostbusters.
  • @Jenny--I'm so glad you're enjoying my blog! I'm really enjoying yours too. I'm glad we got to chat on Skype, we should do it again soon! I often appear buried in my computer to my friends and family too, but the connections are totally worth it.

    @TO--Thanks for reading and sharing your experience. It's amazing how the blogosphere connects us to people that we have so much in common with, but wouldn't have otherwise known. I'm glad you have made some great blogging friendships.
  • Sam - first, let me say that I'm really, really enjoying your blog! I read it often and always mean to comment - but actions speak louder than words so here I am!

    Connecting in person or on the phone with bloggers and other people I meet through twitter has been one of the most rewarding parts of my social media experience. While at times I may appear to be buried in my computer to friends and family, I know that I'm making dozens of little connections with people that will plant seeds of friendship far and wide. That might sound cheesy but it's true!

    Keep up the amazing work! I look forward to getting to know you even better :D
  • I'm always so late to conversations, but I should be excused because I'm writing exams :) Thanks for this post Sam. I feel the same way - if it wasn't for the blogsphere & twitter, we would never have "met".

    I read somewhere once - blogging & twittering is just like creating a community because some of these people I meet just makes me feel like I want to go for coffee with them one day.

    I'd definitely love to visit you next time I'm in New York (my relatives all live there), and I was telling Grace how I'm really thinking of visiting Boulder and feel like I have a "friend" there :)
  • Don't worry, Ruby, there's no such thing as late :) I totally agree, we do create an online community, and it's awesome. And definitely let me know the next time you're in NY!
  • Great post and I definitely feel the same way. I’m actually meeting up with a blogger I discovered through Brazen. Had I not discovered Brazen, Twitter and other forums I would have missed out on the opportunity to meet great people and blogs (like yours!).
  • Very cool! Thanks for being a perfect example of my post :) Enjoy meeting your blogging buddy!
  • sam
    nice points Sam. technology can be so cold, and detached. So when u stumble upon awesome people, it breathes life back into the the net ;) for me at least
  • Totally! I'm happy to hear that you have that outlook. Thanks for the comment, Sam!
  • I love eaxactly these things too. Connecting with people, and it's not like random friend networks too. I mean, you read about their lives, it's easier to be better acquintated :)
  • You bring us such an important point, Andhari...For some people, it's much easier to express themselves through writing, so they may well end up sharings more about themselves with the blogging community than they do with some of their "real" friends. Glad we've been able to connect!
  • I used to be slightly anti-internet. I thought that it caused people to be anti-social and to lack one-on-one personal skills. But since I've become so busy, I actually have lost one-on-one contact because I don't really have time to go to activities and to "hang out." Blogging, twitter, etc have actually kept me tied into people and not become the crazy hermit girl. I have "met" some really cool people and seen a great exchange of ideas. Have those people become friends with me in the traditional sense of the word? I don't know, but who knows what the future hold.

    Great post!!!
  • Kristina, thanks for sharing your perspective. You are a perfect of example of the things I wrote about in the post. You kept hearing about how the Internet caused a lack of social skills, and that's what you believed. I'm glad that you've given it a chance and formed your own opinions. Great to have you in the blogosphere!
  • Not much to add Sam. You've said perfectly, and i love the distinction that you make between teenagers and young independent people. Actually, i think that twitter has changed my life even more than blogging did. More conversations there :)

    Hopefully we can get to know each other Sam! It'd be a pleasure :)
  • Thanks Carlos! I think young adults like ourselves are grouped with teenagers far too often. You're totally right, Twitter is also a great place to meet digital friends. I look forward to getting to know you better too!
  • You bring up such a good point Sam. I've noticed, that specifically with blogging and Twitter I have made some meaningful friendships. Although some of us (ie: you and me) haven't met yet, it doesn't mean our friendship can't grow. I feel really lucky and I know that they're based on something solid, rather than a "fake" Myspace friendship or whatever it may be :)
  • Definitely! We are proof that not all digital friendships are shallow, fake or doomed to failure. Go us! Thanks for the comment.
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