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?

[mrsjay]

raises my cheap B n M to you all

it is bloody lovely BTW i bought it on a whim today when i saw B n M started selling booze

[PeppermintPasty]

LQ??? Ffs I meant LT.
Taxi!

[LeGavrOrf]

Oh I definitely recognise your user name hearts, and did so before the meetup.

It helps if you never change name, I do often but it is always a version of getorf iyswim. I am pretty open on here.

That said there is a prolific mner who has been on here since I have (6 years!) Who namechanges all the time and I recognise her immediately from her posting style, which is odd isn't it

[PeppermintPasty]

Fanks Hearts. Most people end up calling me Patsy though, which is also good, thanks to Joanna Lumley.

It's a win-win.

[mrsjay]

at boobs aloft

I wish I had thought of a cool name now

[mrsjay]

sorry I am a page behind i was bathing and pouring wine

[PeppermintPasty]

Ah Getorf, I like you and your opinions.

You see, this thread speaks THE TRUTH.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

I have only met one person on here, but I have a LOT of affection for lots of you. You are funny and clever and assertive. And some of you get me.

[TiggyD]

I seldom remember who is who on here. It would be different if I ever met people in person, otherwise your just names.

And sometimes I change people's names in my head CockWatchingLady.

[MrsKoala]

I am surprised at the genuine affection i feel for MNers. I also know that if any MNer (even those i haven't agreed with or think come across as dreadful) was in dire straights i would do my best to help them in any way i know how. But that's the same as any human being i think.

However, despite being here 4 years i have never struck up any 'friendships' and don't feel as tho many people would even know my NN or particularly like me. So there is an anonymity too i suppose. There is nothing i say on here that i wouldn't say in RL. I am a very open person.

MN has really helped me thru some low periods but it's also made me laugh and cry. So just like any other relationship really. Ups and downs.

[PeppermintPasty]

I know you MrsK

[ClockWatchingLady]

Tiggy. You clearly HAVE met me in person...

[OnTheNingNangNong]

There's lots here who I recognise and respect and fear in equal measure

I name change a fair bit, but I have done a meet up and met a lovely MNer!


I still fly under the radar though, story of my life!

[PeppermintPasty]

On here I mean. Anything else would just be sinister!

I don't drink and I am tiddlywinks. Apols.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Patsy, that's something I'm never sure of, how to shorten people's nicknames. I'm pretty much always Hearts or HTD, some are pretty obvious like I would call FruOla Fru and not Ola, or short enough like GetOrf (waves, when is the next meet up?) to do all in one... Or would be meaningless like notfootball, I mean you couldn't just call her "not" or "football" could you?

Same Q for you Fru, next meet up? I'm slightly addicted to them I think.

[PeppermintPasty]

Oh LORD!! bugger predictive text!

[MrsKoala]

Phew, i just locked all my windows and doors!

[PeppermintPasty]

Don't blame you

[BrainSurgeon]

Hellllooo so glad a couple of people still remember me!
thank goodnes keeping my nn finally worked

I too would love another meet-up

Doha (Qatar) is nice GetOrf, thanks for asking

[BrainSurgeon]

How's Hully nowadays I wonder? (don't know how to search for her on the iPad)

[onedev]

I name change when I feel I've given too much personal info away. I've been here about 5 years now & have recently started to recognise posters. There is one in particular that I always find myself agreeing with, but I doubt she knows I exist!!

I find it so strange that if I'm experiencing something in real life, I come on here & undoubtedly there'll be a recent thread about it!

I do care a lot about certain threads & posters, which I agree Op does seem strange! There's one in particular that I check regularly (re children's health) & if I could do something to help, I absolutely would.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

I don't name change because..well I don't know really, I suppose because this is me now.

I have been "recognized" in RL from my posts on here but I don't really mind that, I don't think I really post anything too awful.

I recognize a lot of names on here, and even though I've never met anyone, there are some people I really enjoy chatting to. I guess if you end up on the same threads and have the same sort of humour then you do develop a friendship of sorts.

[MurderOfGoths]

I have a fair few online friends who I care about despite having never met. I don;t really see the difference between online and offline friends.

[Sparklingbrook]

It's always a shock when there's a poster who you always agree with, and really value their opinion, and suddenly they post something you don't agree with.

[ThisReallyIsNotSPNopeNotAtAll]

I seem to end up on threads with the same few people.