> Now that i have rambled all of this, i am not sure what my final point is. I guess it is that everything has two sides. I have no clue where i would be today if my dad hadn't introduced me to IRC. Maybe i would be in a better place, maybe not, but i wouldn't change much if i had to do it over again.

Interesting to read such a different experience from mine. I've had internet access since August (or was it September?) last year, when I got a job that required me to be available online all day but with very little to do. I had never considered getting internet access before that, and would not have thought of online socialising as the purpose if I had.

I am not a very social person - I like people, and don't have trouble conversing or relating to people, but I have always been quite solitary and only had one or two very close friends instead of a big crowd of acquaintances.

This was one of the first sites I discovered, and I have pretty much just stayed here. Apart from this, I still don't use the Internet for entertainment. I was very surprised to find such close friends as I have met at RinkWorks, whom I hope to meet in person one day. (You all know who you are.) If the Internet disappeared tomorrow, I would stay in touch with them by phone or letter. (I hope it doesn't disappear, because I don't have their phone numbers, har har.)

I don't have any online friends apart from the ones I've met here, and I can't stand random talking to all-and-sundry on AIM or ICQ. My friends (online or offline makes no difference) are very special to me; I would do anything for them. But it's surprising to think there are people like Cattibrie who can go and meet 100 or more online acquaintances. Trying to imagine myself meeting that many people is so unlikely it's hilarious.

Brunnen-"quantity, no. quality, yes"G