What makes a friend?

I told someone the other day I had to log on the other night see if my friends need me. In their ignorance they said, those aren’t your real friends that play that game.

It made me think awhile. I thought about this. Just because I have never seen their physical body does this preclude them being my friend? What makes a friend? 

1. I talk to my friends – In Reality it may be over the phone, or perhaps a social networking site. Virtually it may be over vent, chat, or through a guild forum

2. Friends are a part of my life, and I am in theirs– Alot of my guildies or virtual friends were there when I lost someone close, they were there when I got the new job, or broke up with that girl I really liked. They have shared the ups and downs of my life. Some of my so called Real friends weren’t even there for me at times of my life. Like when I log on and had a bad day, I go ” I feel bad, lets kill something”, My virtual friends are there for me. Though thank god my real ones didn’t agree with me, I might be writing this from jail. I also share my virtual friends life as well, offering my time, and knowledge to help.

3. I spend time with my friends.– I spend more time with my virtual friends through raiding, sometimes more than any real friend.

4. I trust my friends –I trust my virtual friends will know what their doing, won’t waste my time, have some fun, not try to rip me off, etc. etc. The same way I trust my real friends.

5. I am lessened when my friends are no longer in my life – Saying goodbye to friends is a hard thing, but it happens. Not of any drama or sort. We just grow apart. Their life changes and you can no longer have the camaraderie thats there. I miss them sometimes. When a long time virtual friend decided to go play another game that I didn’t want to play, I was a little hurt. It was like when a friend moved to Germany. Sure I’ll still talk to that friend, but no more going out for a beer, or just hanging out shooting the shit.

The Internet is a double edged sword, Sure there’s alot of  bad,  but there’s so much good. One of the coolest thing that’s it has allowed me to be a part of so many peoples lives over the years. I am so glad I live in a day and age that we can make friends over the internet, just entities connecting over electric impulses. No color, no age, no gender, no masks if we so choose.

For this discussion, I used virtual friend for friends I just know over the internet, and used real friends for those that I know in the physical realm, but in my mind’s eye. They are all my friends.