Hello Hive! In this week's Ladies Of Hive Community Contest #61, we have two interesting questions posed by @joanstewart and I will be answering the second one which is:
Name three ways you build your online friendships! What do you specifically look for? Similarities in personality, culture, gender, guidance, learning, growth in communications, or something more?
Our world has become technologically advanced such that a certain percentage of the populace, especially the youths, spend more time online than they do offline.
The internet is another world or realm if you like and it's normal to connect with people and build relationships just like we do in our offline world. Humans and living beings survive generally because of community which is borne from thriving relationships.
Caution
In building online friendships, I am always very cautious. Many years back when I registered my online presence, I had heard stories of people being scammed and I had to be careful of those I interact with.
There was a time when horrifying stories were going around of some ladies who were involved in online dating. I have nothing against this but it just sounds so unreasonable to 'claim' to date someone you had never seen nor met. It turned out those ladies met with the men for the first time in the real world and the ladies were never seen again while some barely escaped after they had been repeatedly assaulted. It's a nightmare.
These stories intensified my fear and caution of who to befriend online. I don't have any social media presence except on Twitter, Hive and Blurt. Whenever I receive subtle or overt interests that lean towards dating, I shut them down.
Attraction To Likeminds
Just like in the offline world, we are attracted to people of like minds and it is on this basis that I make friends online. When I make friends (offline or online), culture or gender or race have nothing to do with it. I am more of a sapiophile, easily attracted to brilliant minds.
So far, my online friends are mostly on Hive and I start our friendship usually by engaging with them on their quality posts that hold my interest. I see lovely posts that display such intellectual brilliance and emotional intelligence and I become entranced. I comment and express my views on such subjects and in time, we become friends.
Show Interest
Friendships can only exist if an interest shown by one person is reciprocated by the other person. Some users I interact with respond and reciprocate the interest immediately which makes the connection beautiful. Also, when people reach out to me through my contents, I take time to go through theirs and couple with their expression and genuinity, I respond too.
Some users do not respond nor reciprocate for reasons known to them when I show interest to be friends so I move on. That's life. Some users reciprocate later on maybe after I have wooed them, hehe, and they have done their findings and are comfortable interacting with me. And this is okay. Not everyone can be a friend, just like in the offline world.
Engagement And Time
Engagement is essential when it comes to building online friendships especially on Hive and investing time in such friendships to make them grow. This is what I try to do constantly.
I am thankful for all my online friends. I hope to make more online friends and commit my time and interest to build such friendships. I mean, it's the wheel of friendship and community that keeps our world rolling.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I invite @teknon and @marito74 to jump on this wagon so we can ride together.
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Each point raised very valid reasoning, I do like the opening note of caution some very strange people may approach you, one has to be cautious.
Well said, @joanstewart. We cannot throw caution to the wind when dealing with online friendships. Thanks for this week's interesting questions. I appreciate your visit and support. 🙂
Treat each carefully, many are totally innocent it is when you bump into unusual requests to block immediately. Have a great day and stay safe.
(4/5) gave you
@pixresteemer
Excellent post. Yes, I really think that caution is essential. You’re so thoroughly thoughtful.
Thank you so much, @itsostylish. It's important to apply some caution when making online friends. Some persons have lost their hard earned money as a result of interacting with fraudster behind the screen. 🙂
You’re wise beyond your years gal. I would vote, but I can’t since my voting power is, well, like ZERO. Sorry, will make it up 2 u when I can😊
Hehe, no worries. It's a process. We were once at this point too. But your thought counts. 😊
The wagon seems like a really crooked one that's gonna get my brain into bumps while going on the journey of figuring the most perfect answer. Hehehehehehe.
Actually making online friends to me has been limited to those I know physically and I mean Facebook to be specific. Hive is a lovely place and I know that here one can't be scammed just in any random way and so I make my friends as long they have something lovely and educative to offer my brain and mindset since everyone here is an author. I've also been scared of doing the online dating thing and wouldn't encourage it at all. Though it works for some people but one third of it is totally scam. Lovely post dear
😂😂 What am I going to do with you? Don't worry the wagon is not so crooked, you have the option of writing on three wishes. 😄
I picked this question because all the entries I have seen so far are on the first question about wishes. So I picked the second.
Online friendships can be funny on some social media but on Hive, it's more interesting —it's about the mind!
Thanks dear Teknon for your visit. Looking forward to your entry. 🙂
I know the right answer! Just love me and that's it. Lol.
Ok! That'll be great then. I check out the question. Thanks for the invite.
I understand caution perfectly. People do and say things to get validation and also to get favour from others. I've also met the most amazing people online so it's a two way situation.
Like minds, interests. You said it all.
Hello, @chinyerevivian! I agree it's a two way street. Sometimes when I hear stories of thriving marriages or relationships that started from online meet ups, I commend the parties involved.
I appreciate your visit. Thanks for reading. 🙂
I also shun online dating too because not all are real. We need to be cautious connecting with online friends.
I also like to engage on those who visits my posts because I would feel guilty if I do not reciprocate back when they come around especially those who keeps coming.
Beautiful entry ma 😊
Reciprocity is a concrete way to build steady relationships, offline and online. Thanks for the compliment and for reading. Have a good evening. 🙂
I cherish the effort of all women on the blockchain.
Dating someone whom you have not seen is very risky. Just has you have said I make friends with hivers by reading and commenting on your post. Friendship is not an issue to me but how to learn good morals from people and learning how to write like you.
@kemmyb have learnt a lot from you there is no single day that I will not read your post. Your style of writing, your choice of words. That is why we have friends on hive so that we learn from each other.
Thank you @kemmyb for this piece.
Hey @peckypeace! It's been a while. Thanks for reading through this post. I agree that friendship with people we can learn positive things from is the best.
I hope you are doing great. 🙂
You are right, we need to be very cautious making friends online. There is lot of difference between offline and online mode. But you know I have found some very good friends online., one through the Facebook. Later I deleted my fb account, but we are still very good friends.And here I have got you as a friend. So thank you dear for the post and for the friendship 😄
Aw, thanks, Preets. I'm glad we are friends and hope we continue to be so for a long time.
Everything in life has its pros and cons. Yes, online friendship may turn out to be dangerous or a pitfall. On the hand, it could be the highlight for some people.
It's a good thing you are still in good terms with your Facebook friend. Thanks a lot for your visit. Sorry about the late response. 😁
Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the contest.It is good to be cautious, @kemmyb!
Yes. Caution helps to guard us against trouble or online pitfalls.
Thanks a lot for your support. 😊
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It is always prudent and sensible to take cautions in initiating friendships on any social platform. It's under your control how close or deep you wish will depend on your discernment and comfort level.
One thing I know, if he asks to borrow lots of money, end it there pronto.
Lol! I've already had a marriage proposition, asked/begged for money, and asked/begged to send a sexy photo of myself by different dudes.
Thanks for sharing @kemmyb
Wow! An online marriage proposition? Hahaha, I'm sure you had a good laugh that day. 😃 I've never gotten one of those. It's just weird.
I agree that our discernment should guide us as to how far we would allow the relationship to go and what request to accede to.
Thanks for your enlightening comment. I appreciate your visit. 😊