Many people and especially the younger ones spend hours in front of the computer. If you didn't know better you would probably say they have no life, but the truth is that with the computer you can find a new, different kind of life. Thanks to the Internet you can discuss, play games, find a new friend, learn to play an instrument or find answers on practically anything you like. There are few limits and many possibilities. How good is it then for a person who spends time with people over the Internet instead of in real life (IRL)? Is it possible to have a good relationship through a computer? The big difference is of course the physical contact. Therefore we have to ask – how important is it? Can you survive living only with Internet relationships? I think that even though relations through Internet can give you a lot you can't eliminate the physical contact. If you have friends IRL there's nothing to worry about. It's never really the same feeling to have a good laugh with a real friend than with an Internet friend. There are also many who meet their friends in school for example and at home talk to them over the Internet. Over the Internet you might dare to say things you usually wouldn't say in reality. You don't need to look the person in the eye while you talk, you simply just have to press some buttons and send. For a shy person it could be a good thing to have a chance to express him or herself and perhaps get over their shyness. As long as they don't stop talking with their real friends because those relationships mean the most. Then of course it's not appropriate to say everything through the Internet, sometimes you have to tell the person directly to show that you really mean it. On the Internet things don't become as personal and the risk is that someone lies or pretends to be someone else. Internet has, as I said before, many possibilities but also some negative aspects. The balance between the real life and the Internet life is important to find. You can live another life through the Internet but it's not a complete lifestyle. You have to use the possibilities right and at the same time take care of the real life.
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