to feel confused by the level of affection one feels for nicknames on a screen?

[ClockWatchingLady]

I'm a bit late to the party, having only just discovered MN (never been on other "chat" type sites either). It really feels like people care about each other here, and (like countless others, it seems) I continually find myself "checking" on people on certain threads, and thinking about some posters' welfare very regularly.

I can't formulate my question exactly, but isn't it a bit weird that none of us really knows each other? Or do we? What does it all mean?! People who have been on MN a long time: do you feel that you have real "friendships" here?

[BIWI]

Step - you just jump in and post, and post, and post and then suddenly you will find that you're talking with the same people and getting to know them.

Sometimes I think the stuff I know about other posters is quite shocking!

And if you get the chance to go to a meet-up, then jump at it.

[ZingWidge]

I'm waving to you coz I want you to be happy.

I don't think I'm a cool kid though and I'm a newbie anyway.
a few people have been nasty to me, even made me cry (insensitive, selfish bastards ,) but the incredible support people offer outweighs the stupid shit.
And boy does MN make me laugh until I cry!

my only problem is that MN is way to addictive... I had been top ten many times on the list of most prolific posters a few times (open but pointless boast?) and the week I topped the chart I had posted over 400 times in a week!
I was shocked and felt like an addict. I didn't realize I spent that much time online!

I like a lot of people here and the best time for me is when I find people who get my sense of humour, like Ems or Kotinka or Thumbtack or Vix to mention a few.
they do feel like actual friends.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

Zing I am happy now

[Beastofburden]

trying not to get addicted...

[madmomma]

I really really love MN and it has got me through some tough evenings. I feel huge affection for lots of familiar names even though they probably wouldn't recognise mine. It is quite strange and maybe a bit stalkerish I love how you get a real sense of people's personalities on here.

[BrainSurgeon]

Go on Fell, confess.... is it me you don't like.... I won't be upset if you say yes lies

[TheRealFellatio]

Oh don't you start! As if I'd say that out loud on the forum knowing damned well that the person in question might see it - especially when I have them on fb! What DO you all take me for?

I haven't seen or heard of that particular person in many months, possibly even years. They may still be here under a NC - I have no idea. Blimey I will now have every MNer at that meet up queueing up to go 'Is it me? It is, isn't it?'

[ZingWidge]

therealfellatio

is it me you don't like?

[ZingWidge]

it is, isn't it?

[BIWI]

Shows what little self-esteem/how much paranoia we all have, doesn't it?!

[TheRealFellatio]

Oh stop it.

[BIWI]

[kisses]

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Nope. It's me, isn't it?

[FruOla]

Don't be daft, Hearts, how on earth could anyone dislike someone as lovely as you are?

= you are a fab lady!

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Awwwww Fru! I wish there were little heart emoticons

You're lovely too.

[ZingWidge]

?????????????????

[ZingWidge]

?????????????????

[ZingWidge]

thereal but you didn't say it wasn't me, did you?

so it must be me

[TheRealFellatio]

I'm looking sternly at everybody now.

[BIWI]

[quails]

[Nagoo]

BIWI did you just lay a tiny egg?

[ZingWidge]

thereal it would take a hell of a lot more to make me not like you!

stop frowning, it's going to ruin your beautiful face!

[TheRealFellatio]

Do you know what I look like? (apart from beautiful, obviously)

[ZingWidge]

I guessed!

[ZingWidge]

anyway, there's no way it was me you didn't like. I only joined last November.
I was just being silly.