The Written Word Fosters Honesty
Many (many, many) people find it hard to say what they really feel face to face, or even voice to voice. Text often supplies what courage cannot: the resolve to say what one really feels. The clear advantage here is the ability to rewrite and redraft until it’s perfect.
Anonymity isn’t even required. Real friendships and even conjugal relationships are born and flourish on social media. I first noticed this on Twitter.
It has been said—by whom? Some troll, probably—that friendships that exist only in social media aren’t real, what ever ‘real’ means.
This laughably mistaken notion comes from the belief that friendship requires proximity. But long distance communication began as written communication did, centuries ago.
When the letter was in its golden age, real lifelong friendships started via the ‘pen pal.’ Friendships became deeper via the written word as well. Think of loved ones having to go far away for long periods.
More than merely words could be communicated back when, as well. Virtual kisses, hugs, and even sexts—what used to be called ‘love’ letters.*wink*
How was this less real than real life back then? And how is it that we don’t also consider modern social media a part of real life? I’m sure for the letter writers it was.
For the record, marriages have resulted from relationships that began online, just as they did in Victorian England via the post. I met my wife this way (via Facebook, not the mail). Don’t tell me true love isn’t real.
You can say that online relationships aren’t real all you like. You’ll still be dead wrong.
