Depends what you mean about online relationships Sprintcyclist.  Do you mean romantic online relationships or just plain communication online?

I've found that being on Cracker has toughened me up quite a lot.  I used to get very angry at some of the insults, but lately I find most of them funny and I get a good laugh, although obviously I still lose it occasionally.  But if you want a bit of light entertainment - online forums are good for that.

As far as romantic online relationships - I've had a couple which were fun and the males were attractive and great with words (surprisingly).  The communication was a  pleasant emotional experience considering I was experimenting with this at the time. 

Generally though - for some people - online relationships are very good for us emotionally if we don't become too personally involved or take it too seriously.

Online relationships are a fast way to heartache.

I met my fiancee on the net too. Is a good place to meet people.
Unfortunately it can also be a place where untoward people can meet and obsess on their unsocial illegal interests too.
maybe, it is a place that enables more extremist behaviour ? At this stage anyway.

You get the occasional reality check in a pub.

No charges, but serious consequences in case of mean Internet postings that preceded suicide

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/no-charges-but-serious-consequences-in-case-of-mean-internet-postings-that-preceded-suicide/2007/12/04/1196530640975.html

There will be no criminal charges in the case of a 13-year-old girl who killed herself last year after receiving cruel messages on the Internet. There have, however, been consequences.

People online have expressed outrage against those involved in sending mean messages to Megan Meier, identifying some of them. The family authorities say was behind the fake MySpace profile where the messages originated has reported its home being hit by paintballs and getting a brick thrown through a window.

St. Charles County prosecutor Jack Banas said it's his understanding that a former friend of Megan's whose family was behind the fake profile is now being home-schooled. He added that a young employee of the girl's mother who was also involved is hospitalized and receiving psychiatric treatment.

Megan's relatives, still mourning their loss, are working to strengthen laws related to Internet harassment and better protect children on social networking sites. Her parents separated after her death and plan to divorce.

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Missouri panel proposes changes in harassment law, inspired by teen's suicide after Web taunts

http://news.smh.com.au/missouri-panel-proposes-changes-in-harassment-law-inspired-by-teens-suicide-after-web-taunts/20071117-1axg.html

Adults who use the Internet to harass children could be charged with a felony if Missouri lawmakers agree with a proposal made Tuesday by a state panel formed after a taunted teenager's suicide.

Gov. Matt Blunt's task force on Internet harassment met for the final time, putting the finishing touches on a plan that will be submitted to the governor. Committee members did not say when a final draft would be ready.

I gave up on online relationships when I kept getting 20 year old photos.

deepthought wrote on Feb 12^th, 2008 at 5:29pm:


My motto now is "what you see is what you get". Only tried online relationships for about six months after divorce. Once I got past that I decided the single life, and freedom, was too good. I meet lots of women in my job, but still not tempted to give up this blessed freedom.