A Waste Of Time?

[rabet]

I have a very good friend with whom I share many interests and opinions. However, he thinks chatsites like this are a criminal waste of time, his main point being that in almost all conversations you have no proof that the other members are telling the truth, or even if the personalities they present are real or merely a façade. He maintains that you should concentrate your attention on your family and "real" friends rather than on what he thinks of as an "online fantasy world".
I sometimes wonder if he is right in taking this attitude. Any views on this?

[rsvp]

I think your friend should stop foisting his opinions on you as to how you should live your life - what makes him right and you wrong? If you enjoy chat sites, hang gliding or visiting churches - your life, your choice. Just my opinion of course :-)

[rabet]

The post immediately below this may perhaps be relevant!

[rsvp]

?

[boxtops]

It's nothing to do with your friend. Of course none of us can tell if the people we are chatting with are genuine, or fronts, or what - but it's good fun, you learn a lot, and as long as it doesn't become your only contact with other people, there's no harm in it. A site like this which offers anonymity can be useful too, in that your own family and friends can be judgemental - people on here can be too, but they don't know you so are more likely to offer honest opions. You tell him to go whistle....

[boxtops]

^ which below? posts move on very quickly here!

[Wharton]

AB isn't only for chatting. Have a look at the Topics list.

[joggerjayne]

Your friend expresses a negative view about chat sites.

To pursue the discussion further, you turn to ... a chat site.

So maybe you instinctively disagree with your friend.

So you'll stay here with us on AB, yes?

:0)

[rabet]

I meant the question by slocjo.

[rabet]

jj, I was aware of the irony in posting the question on a chatsite, and wondered who would be the first person to remark upon it; you are of course making a valid point.

[kvalidir]

Some of us know each other off this site though as well, in fact I think it's true that lots of differing groups of regulars have met up from meeting on here, so it can sometimes be only the start of how you interact with someone. I agree though to some degree that people can project whatever persona they want on a site like this.

[joggerjayne]

It's quite fun on here, it passes the time, and no one takes it too seriously, right? (at least, not in ChatterBank).

:0)

[rabet]

Wharton, you are quite correct about AB, but I was referring to CB.

[ludwig]

On here people present opinions for discussion and comment. Whether they're the real opinion of the person behind the computer, or whether that person claims to be a 56 yr old lorry driver from Wigan but is really a teenage girl, doesn't actually matter so much. An entertaining and potentially educational debate can still be had around what the point they've raised.

The anonymity of it actually adds something rather than detracts from it in my opinion.

[Peter Pedant]

you mean AOG is an internet fiction of someone 10 y old ?
Damn well done young man is all I can say

rabet as with your 'post below' "?"
you have to wade thro the 'yeh', 'what' 'whaaaa' and 'meh?'
which are apt to flood onto the site at irregular intervals
and you will find some sense.

On the law option we have civil and criminal lawyers masquerading under the cloak of anonymity which allows them to be frank quite honestly - and for free.

[maggiebee]

Agree Scrivens - if you have a medical problem go see your doctor. You wouldn't take your car to the blacksmith to get serviced.

[ummmm]

I mentioned a pub I used to live in and another user said she must know me because she drank in he pub I mentioned.

Yes....we've known each other for years :-)