[susanb]

I have many internet friends like most of us.....

in recent years I have only met  two and a couple yesterday.....

only one was a dating friend and it wasn't interested 
but an excelent contact for mental health questions
about schizaphrenia...

I have known this couple from oz for more than 15 years
about parenting adopted kids and they came here to ski
at whistler [ coincidentally with Prince Harry]

they too had travelled for years in africa.........

[enchantmentadm]

I have also made a few nternet friends, mostly from Catholic Match forums. But none of these have lasted. I actually met one in person (actually a guy), who was from the east coast. He was passing through town on a trip out west a few years ago and we met for a beer. It is important to determine early in the game if the person is a dating prospect or not. If the person is someone where there is potentially dating interest, it is imperative to meet as soon as possible. There is not much point in remaining pen pals indefinitely. Sometimes a person could be a dating prospect if you were geographically closer but it might work as a friendship if both of you are clear with each other from the beginning that you are not interested in a long distance relationship and the distance is a deal breaker for that kind of relationship.

[susanb]

I have also made a few nternet friends, mostly from Catholic Match forums. But none of these have lasted. I actually met one in person (actually a guy), who was from the east coast. He was passing through town on a trip out west a few years ago and we met for a beer. It is important to determine early in the game if the person is a dating prospect or not. If the person is someone where there is potentially dating interest, it is imperative to meet as soon as possible. There is not much point in remaining pen pals indefinitely. Sometimes a person could be a dating prospect if you were geographically closer but it might work as a friendship if both of you are clear with each other from the beginning that you are not interested in a long distance relationship and the distance is a deal breaker for that kind of relationship.

3 out of four were friends dealing with difficult adopted kids......had a fab visit on sunday.......
we had helped each other with troubled/suicidal kids for 13 years

Sally had helped many of us with tremendous experiences that really work...

in terms of dating....I was amazed that the dating guy [the only one 
i ever met in person] came to vancouver at all but he did tour the rockies with my kids

[MaryAlice]

I have also made a few nternet friends, mostly from Catholic Match forums. But none of these have lasted. I actually met one in person (actually a guy), who was from the east coast. He was passing through town on a trip out west a few years ago and we met for a beer. It is important to determine early in the game if the person is a dating prospect or not. If the person is someone where there is potentially dating interest, it is imperative to meet as soon as possible. There is not much point in remaining pen pals indefinitely. Sometimes a person could be a dating prospect if you were geographically closer but it might work as a friendship if both of you are clear with each other from the beginning that you are not interested in a long distance relationship and the distance is a deal breaker for that kind of relationship.

I agree with you, Armand, wholeheartedly, regarding the long-distance detail.  

For me, I need to be around the person with some amount of regularity to see how we get along with one another.  Cannot tell you how many guys on CM couldn't get that through their thick skulls, continuing to push a long-distance relationship with me when I told them "no," and that "it's not worked for me in the past and couldn't see it working now or in the future."  I didn't feel I needed to explain myself to them; but even after I explained things to them, they would keep pushing.  They would leave me no other choice than to just close the messaging (on CM), and not respond again.  One of my girlfriends used to say that no response (from me) was a huge response, and that since he didn't really care about my feelings on the matter now, what would give me the feeling that he would care about my feelings regarding anything!!! in the future if we were to get into a relationship?    LOL! 

Also, it's pointless to be pen pals for any extended period of time.  I've made the mistake of getting my heart in a "romantic noose," only to get disappointed after he quit writing me (on CM).

All that to say, with two exceptions, all the internet / CM relationships I've tried to continue have all vanished.  I'm grateful for those two who continue to respond to my messages (via personal email), but I doubt that we'll ever meet since one is Out West, and the other is halfway around the world, Down Under!  I continue to pray for them as I know their circumstances are very difficult with living the single life .... sheesh .... how well I know.    Argh! 

[susanb]

I am grateful for internet friends.........I came online in 2009 mostly to keep up with family

and [some friends I have known that long] and am very friendly without meeting