Love? Or just infatuation ....

[Susie Strawb]

Is it posible to fall in love wth someone online without actually meeting them - or is it just infatuation??

[Cockney_si]

I suppose it really depends on the amount of trust someone develops. Obviously someone who is quite easily led can be vulnerable to fall for someone over the internet.

Some people tend to go over the top on the internet, sort of a shy persons excuse to be an extrovert in a way.

[teag1rl]

erm. I think it's just infatuation. and be aware that people can also look very different in real life to that photo! I talked (as in on phone, not msn) with someone I met online every day for months and we 'loved' each other- but when we met-that spark just wasn't there. I wouldn't get too carried away if I was you. Of course, maybe you aren't asking because you are in that situation-I'm just passing on my experience of it.

[metagirl]

just infatuation. people can be very charming in writing not so much so when you actually meet them! Although saying that, one of my best friends married a guy she met in a chat room and they just had their first baby! But she didn't fall in love online - that required the usual dating thing.

[Holbeckian]

Well sorry to buck the trend but I did fall in love online. I'd been in a chatroom and someone who had also been in there but I'd not spoken to PM'd me and it went from there....

After a few weeks we realised we had a lot in common and enjoyed each other's company and the relationship developed....At that point we agreed to be as honest and as open with each other as we could and we started writing to ach other and chatting on the 'phone...

There was just one problem.....she was 3,500 miles away in the USA! After about 18 months she came over and we met....and then she went back.

But 18 months later she returned and we've been together ever since, getting on for 6 years now.

[Cymbeline]

I don't believe that you can love someone until you really know them but having said that can you ever really know anyone? I am as dubious about falling in love online as I am about falling in love at first sight but for those people who do believe in the later surely you have to believe the former can occur? In fact falling in love at first sight is much more superficial than falling in love online. Either way I would say to enjoy the possibility and never become too cynical.

[Susie Strawb]

Thanks everyone, glad to see I'm not the only one whose felt like this. I know nothing will ever come of it becuase we're both attached but its nice to think it could happen - good luck and congrats to everyone whose managed to make it work :->

[Drisgirl]

I think its escapism with a touch of perhaps like- mindedness which makes you slightly infatuated.You can build a friendship where you 'know each other' but if anything were to happen to either the other wouldnt know - weird isnt it?

[Pippa68]

I think it must be infatuation ~ it is possible to fall in love with that person properly once you have met, of course..but just online? I don't think so!

I didn't meet my hubby online but we did talk on the phone for 3 months before we actually met. I did feel very close to him & probably infatuated but I didn't fall in love with him until we met...& yes, it was at first sight :o)

[funkymoped]

yes !

love is an emotion, not a physical feeling..

[*ALFIE*]

If you regular chat,exchange photos and maybe phone numbers (so you know how the person sounds like) - then its possible to fall in love as the trust between the two people are there. So it is possible to fall in love.

[THE Katy]

YES. nobody here mentioned webcams, they can prove the person is the sex they claim to be!

[jason1980]

I should imagine people can fall in love with the perception of other people. It wouldn't be until somebody actually met that person whether he or she lives up to the expectations that they portrayed about themselves on the internet. In other words falling in love online is different to falling in love in person. I love the idea of being rich, but in reality I could hate it...

[wannaknownow]

I'm a bit of a casualty of this whole business. Me and millions of others.
The fact is that it's possible to meet someone online and, without ever realising that you are doing it, shape them into the likeness of someone that you want them to be... someone that you can truly fall for and love.
And all the time it's founded on a bunch of half truths and wishes.
Until you've shared the same square meter of space together for a while you have no sure way of knowing whether you have a future together.
In my opinion of course! :-)

[jayjay90]

I do belive you can fall in love online - well I think anyway. The thing is, I think i'm in love with somebody and I can never meet this person for reasons that I cant explain but how do I get over it?

I think it's love and I dont want to be in love

[Susie Strawb]

JayJay, I realy thought I was in love to, we chatted online for hours, spoke a few times on the phone. Got to the point where I realised it wasn't fiar on my boyfriend, next time spoke on the phone told him couldn't contact each other anymore becuase I had feelings for him. Soon as the words were out of my mouth I realised how stupid it sounded, we had a giggle about it and are still good friends. I love him as a realy good friend but I've realised I'm not "in love" with him