Can Internet Relationships Work
From LoveToKnow Dating
Can Internet relationships work? This is the big question for everyone involved in online dating. While there are some disadvantages to Internet relationships, there are some good things as well.
Can Internet Relationships Work?
Internet relationships can work if the couple is committed to making it work. An Internet relationship is nearly identical to a long distance relationship, and there are many couples whom are proof that love can overcome the distance. If you think you have found a great person online, the hardships of having an Internet relationship may be worth it.
How to Make Internet Relationships Work
There are a few things that couples can do to help their Internet relationships succeed.
Communication
All relationships need communication in order to last. This is especially true for Internet relationships. In fact, communication is all that some Internet couples have since they are unable to spend time together in-person like traditional couples.
The great thing about this, however, is that the couple will quickly determine if they enjoy talking together. On a normal date, you may be blind to the lack of intellectual and emotional compatibility if you are physically attracted to your partner. When all you can do with each other is talk, you’ll know for certain if the two of you share a connection.
This creates a communication and emotional base to the relationship that can be lacking from traditional relationships. If the two of you transition from Internet to in-person couple, you’ll have the potential to be a very emotionally connected couple.
Use the Phone
Since Internet couples often start communicating by e-mail and instant messages, there is a tendency to continue relying on these communication methods. Writing to each other has its place, but you’ll enjoy the relationship more if you use the phone as well. Hearing each other’s voice just can’t be replaced by typing emoticons.
To avoid long distance phone bills or to save your wireless minutes, consider using Internet voice technologies. Services such as Vonage or Skype allow you to talk over the Internet using your high-speed connection. You can talk for hours without having to worry about the bill.
Meet in Person
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While the phone is an improvement over e-mail and instant messaging, nothing can match spending time together in person. If you haven’t met each other yet, begin making plans to do so. Some couples don’t consider their relationship official until they verify in-person chemistry. Chances are the chemistry you have on the Internet and over the phone will continue when you meet, but you can’t be absolutely sure until you are standing next to each other.
After you meet for the first time, begin making plans for a second visit, if the first meeting went well. The time between visits can be hard to endure, especially if you are in love. However, having an upcoming date on the calendar will give you something tangible to hold onto and look forward to in-between visits.
Honesty
Everyone you date deserves your honesty, but Internet relationships are overly dependent upon honesty. An Internet relationship is not for everyone. If you find that you can’t endure the separation or are tired of being limited to phone and e-mail conversations, be honest about it. There is no sense continuing any relationship if your heart is not in it.
Trust
Along with honesty is the need for trust. Since you are not physically near each other in an Internet relationship, it can be difficult to know exactly what the other person is doing with his or her spare time. This easily allows suspicion to enter the relationship. If you can’t trust that your Internet partner isn’t also dating someone else, then your Internet relationship is doomed to fail.
Internet Relationship Endgame
Assuming the goal of your Internet relationship is to eventually have a traditional, in-person relationship, then at some point you’ll need to discuss how to make this happen. When to talk about this is a sensitive matter. If you talk about it too soon, you may scare off the other person. If you wait too long, your date may become anxious and want to end the relationship.
For every couple the timing is different, but at some point, you need to discuss how, and possibly, when, the two of you can finally be together.
Conclusion
Can Internet relationships work? Of course they can. For a couple that is interested in each other and wants to see where the relationship goes, the Internet should be seen as a means of communication instead of the definition of their relationship..
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Comments
Hi 7000km apart,
It's definitely possible that you've fallen in love with him. However, you do need to be careful because not everyone is who they seem online, even in webcam chatting. Always be safe when you meet someone from the Internet. Never meet with the person alone, always in a public place. If you do want to meet him, do it in a public place and see how things go. It will seem like you are starting over again with the meeting, but if you guys click, you'll know right away. If not, well, then you'll know you need to move on. Good luck...remember to be safe.
-- Contributed by: Marcelina HardyHi I am really confused. I met a guy randomly on skype, he just started chatting to me and things have been moving fast. I wasn't even looking for love I was just on Skype. He lives in Argentina and I live in South Africa. We chat via webcam very often and sometimes spend an hour two chatting via webcam despite the fact that he speaks no english and my spanish is not perfect. He always talks about what he is going to bring me when he comes to visit and told me that he loves me and all sorts of charming latin things. Tonight he was discussing his holiday schedule with me telling me how he thinks he is going to buy a ticket to come here in June. Do I believe this guy or what, I won't lie I have been encouraging it as I think he's super sexy and really nice; actually its weird I am not sure why i like him I just do.... But the question is should I?
-- Contributed by: 7000km apartHello Wondering Lost,
If it's been four years and you still have no met him, yes, I would be worried. There may something going on that you don't know about on his end, which is why he is not set on meeting you. If you really want to meet him and have a relationship with this person, ask again if he wants to plan to meet, if he doesn't, you may want to rethink how much you really want to invest in this relationship.
-- Contributed by: Marcelina Hardy
This page has been accessed 3,969 times. This page was last modified 01:59, 20 November 2009.
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