Then there are sites that allow you connect with people with similar interests, such as the book discussion site I belong to. It can be difficult to find people around here to talk to about favorite books and authors; you can find like-minded people online. Are they going to be life long best friends? Doubtful. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t something mutually beneficial in taking part.

Actual friendships also occur, though for me those came through blogging. I’ve known some of the same people for almost a decade now, have snail-mailed and exchanged gifts, and actually met some of them when they were in the area. These few have become real, true friends with whom I talk and text daily.

I think that the problem comes when people fail to maintain a balance with real life. I think there’s a real danger of people letting the cyber world become their *whole* world rather than one small part of it.

I guess it comes down to what you’re using it for, and how you use it.