Among Friends

[MsCatLuver]

Hi ALL, 

So I over the past several months I've become more active on QVC forums (after years of not participating).  I really enjoy the conversations and the support you have for each other on this "Among Friends" forum.  I've noticed that many of you "seem" very close, You know about each others lives (to varying extents)  and will be genuinely concerned if a poster goes missing.  So, I wonder, How emotionally attached are you to your forum friends?  Do you care as much about cyber friends as those friends in your physical world? Have you ever expanded a cyber friendship into a physical one...such as have a meet-up? I remember that Q used to (maybe still has) a Beauty Bash where QVCers could meet each other and the hosts.  TIA for your replies.

[chiclet]

I don't get the paper so I drink my coffee and get online.  I don't feel any emotional attachment to the forum or the people on it.  I like to read reviews of products.  I like to hear opinions of products and opinions about different topics.  It is fun to do this because it is anonymous and no worries about what is said.  I do think there are some petty people who can be ugly and want to argue.  If I open a thread and it is not interesting to me or I don't like the thread I just go on to something else.  I like the forums because they are not my friends or family.  

[Mom2Dogs]

Good morning @MsCatLuver, I too have often wondered how forum members get connected.  I have noticed that some have each other emails, etc.  I am thinkng maybe thru facebook and possibly they met at the now defunct Beauty Bash... but I have no idea.

I have a hard time keeping everyone straight!  A few names I immediately recognize, one name I have not seen post for quite a while (hoosiergirl)...i THINK that is her name, I do wonder if she is OK.  but for the most part I read their posts, respond and move on.....just because I am sure I will never meet the person in real life and do not have a close relationship with them....

Some names that I remember that have not posted in a long time I assume moved on...the boards can get pretty nasty sometimes. If I thought a poster. and I had a connection with similar interests, I might be interested in meeting them in person...I don't think you can ever have to many friends.

[CalminHeart]

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@chicletwrote:

I don't get the paper so I drink my coffee and get online.  I don't feel any emotional attachment to the forum or the people on it.  I like to read reviews of products.  I like to hear opinions of products and opinions about different topics.  It is fun to do this because it is anonymous and no worries about what is said.  I do think there are some petty people who can be ugly and want to argue.  If I open a thread and it is not interesting to me or I don't like the thread I just go on to something else.  I like the forums because they are not my friends or family.  

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Exactly.  

Forum posters are nice but one never really knows them enough to be friends.

[qualitygal]

There are several people on here that I enjoy speaking with, laughing with and just in general, seeing how they are doing.  

[cherry]

I don't see this as any different from having a pen friend. Just because  you don't meet, doesn't mean you don't develop respect and fondness for other people

[apple1964]

Very much so with the Pet lovers forum folks. What a wonderful bunch of  people. When my then 9 year old  daughter Libby had her second open heart surgery they prayed with us, The out pouring of love and healing thoughts were amazing. I felt that they were like family. We care about each other and when someone is missing from a post/thread  we ask about them. When there animals pass away or when they are sick or lost we start a prayer vigil for them. we all pray at the same time. We cyber hug each other and we miss  our old dear friends that have passed. 

[OKPrincess]

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@cherrywrote:

I don't see this as any different from having a pen friend. Just because  you don't meet, doesn't mean you don't develop respect and fondness for other people

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Well said @cherry. I enjoy different topics discussed which sometimes brings back fond memories of my childhood. Recipes, remodeling, planning a trip, old movies, fashions. The sky’s the limit.

[happycat]

There is another website, not a shopping one, that I belong to, and I have exchanged email/phone numbers with a couple of people on that site. We talk weekly. The people I talk to don't live anywhere near me, so I will probably never "meet" them in person. They live hundreds/thousands of miles away.

On this website, that is against the rules.

[QVCkitty1]

While I enjoy this forum and many of the posters, I really don't know any of them, so I can't form an attachment. It's a fun diversion, that's all.