We wanted to focus on online friendships and communities this month as we don't feel as if they're celebrated enough. We asked our online community in the Stack Up discord the following questions:
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
Want to join in on Stack Up's community of Veterans, Active Duty Military and Civilians? Just hit this link!
SchroderCat
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
I grew up on the old battle.net. The time when Town Square was a thing and people roleplayed freely. It made it easy to connect with people, and I still reminisce about my time on the old servers.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I just popped into a server one day and started typing. My experience was it was normal for people to communicate online. As I grew up, I branched out into more communities. AOL instant messenger and Yahoo chatrooms weren't exactly safe ways to traverse online, but they were a great jumping off point. A/S/L? Anyone?
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
I'm grateful especially for the gaming communities that help me find like-minded individuals when playing a common interest game together. In addition, the obvious mention needs to be Stackup. Very grateful to Stephen and the entire team for putting something like this behemoth of a charity together.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
VVAR, a Star Citizen/Arma/Planetside group of great people. https://discord.gg/XHBqTGKR
Jesse (DullJoker) | Twitch
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
Because you tend to spend just as much if not more time with them.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I started online gaming back in the day on the Nintendo Wii. On there I used to play a lot of Call of Duty Black Ops and World at War which is where I first started to make online friends while playing videogames.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
I would consider so many people in the StackUp community as my friends. I'm super grateful for finding "yous guys".
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
I've also made a lot of friends back when I used to play a lot of Grand Theft Auto V, Destiny 2 and Battlefield 4. Some of them I still have contact with but not anymore with most of them.
Volhov_Velez
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
Community is apart of human nature. Even if it is in a virtual space, being apart of something is important. online friendships to me is a way to experience a culture that is outside of my own.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
Mainly because of gaming, and trying to meet new people
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
my buddy who introduced me into training in fighting games. i've seen how far i've come from playing with him.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
still trying to find the comfort. idk if its all in my head or its reality.
Puzzle (They/Them) | Twitch
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
I think online friendships are VERY important. I have more online friends than I do real life ones and I value every friendship I develop. For me online relationships are easier as I can go at my pace getting to know people and slowly trust them as with real life relationships I feel rushed to make connections. Online relationships are also valid and important for me as I have autism and I don’t pick up on every social cue and online friendships make that easier as I don’t have to constantly process every part of the conversation and only have to pick up on certain aspects. I also am not forced to make eye contact and everything. For me online friendships are just as valid as offline. If it weren’t for StackUp I wouldn’t have as many friends as I do and StackUp helped me get the courage to go out and visit two close friends of mine (Renegade and Kittara) so I’m super thankful for the support from StackUp to be myself and not worry about what others think.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I started making online friendships a few years ago and through trial and error I found the people who accepted me for who I am and actually want me to join them for games.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
The friendships I’ve made that I’m grateful for are Kittara and Renegade. Kittara and I met in a twitch stream and we started talking after she commissioned me for an art piece. She then introduced me to Renegade and her D&D crew and I actually had the amazing opportunity to go visit them and spend an amazing weekend with them and their gaming crew. The picture included is from the trip I recently took of Rex and I at a Petting Zoo on Holloman AirForce Base. Another few friendships I’m grateful for are Ziplock, Lunatic, and eSkilliam those three have helped me through some rough times and I’m super thankful i can turn to them when I need advice. They have helped me realise that not everyone is out to get me and hurt me.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
StackUp
Countryjames66 | Hoss88
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
It's a way to yes all to people all over not just local. The difference in area and communities.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
Gaming.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
Met my wife and best friend online.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
Destiny and tiktok
Lunaticmeep | Twitch
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
You learn from international friends their cultures , hobbies and lifestyles.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I have had online friends come and go since AOL era.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
DullJoker, Ali(interpreter from Afghanistan), Puzzle and too many to name.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
StackUp, Oklahoma Gamers, Oklahoma Vets
eSkilliam
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
Online friendships allow us to be a part of a community that shares interests closely. That's honestly hard to get in person these days. As far as validity, any relationship is only as valid as you make it. What may be a valuable aspect of life for some may not be for others. If you find someone you jive with and want to hang out over a headset or video game, then who is to tell you that's wrong.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I've been in online chat groups nearly since the advent of the world wide web. I've seen forums grow and fall. I've made friends online through MMORPG's. Growing up a computer and video game nerd that had access to online communication since around 1995, It kind of just happened naturally.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
All of them. Every interaction has brought something to the table, be it good or bad, and helped make me who I am today. I'm especially fond of the ones I chat with on a regular basis in the Stack Up discord, but I've had many other meaningful online friendships over the years, as well as some IRL friendships that migrated online due to distance.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
Stack Up, obviously. There's a Ham Radio Discord that kicked off from twitter that I've mad friends in. Another big one for me in recent decades was Pete's Game Room which started out as a forum then migrated to Discord as the forum died.
AnxiousGoat78
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
For me they are a different beast. I feel comfortable in the distance where the pressure of consequence seems to be less. With my mental health concerns, I often grow paranoid about in-person relationships. I am much more slow to open up with offline relationships.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
Mostly from people who have reached out to me through my blog about schizophrenia. But to go into the way-back machine: before I joined the Army in 2003 I made friends in a military focused online forum. These friends helped guide me into the service which has, ultimately, been a positive experience for me.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
There are a few members of Stack Up that I am grateful for. There's always someone to find to take a load off with or to just shoot the shit.
Sahara | DarthSagaSwag
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
Some people have social anxiety, mental health, or other issues that prevent them from going out and making friends. Some don't have too much time to get out and about. Others might be too tired to go out and still more might deal with just not being great at talking to people. So online people have a chance to talk to people with similar interests. It takes time to build a rapport and relationship with people online. People meet friends, spouses, etc online. Offline friends are great, but online friends can fill in the spaces they don't.
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
I started out in fandoms. I wanted to talk to other people who made fanart for a show I liked and talked about the show and one of the ships on the show. Out of it, I ended up making fanfics and writing and connecting with people from all over, some of whom I'm still friends with after 10 years online.
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
I have some online friends I've known for 10 years. I've been in some group chats with groups of women who are all into similar stuff. They're really great because we check in with one another, vent, joke around, and it's generally a nice space for us all.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
Stack Up has been really great. I kinda felt left out of Veteran communities in the past, but this one puts in effort to being welcoming of all walks of life. The above group chats have names that are inside jokes so I won't name them here, but they're all wonderful.
Corey/KrustyOtaku | tiktok
Why do you think online friendships and communities are important? What makes them just as valid as offline friendships?
I'm not a fan of being with people in person as I feel more comfortable in my house which allows me to feel more comfortable talking to people online
If you're willing to share, how did you start making online friends and/or joining online communities?
Probably in 2007 when Xbox live was a thing
What are some of the online friendships you've made that you're grateful for?
I met one of my good friends and even attended his wedding later on in life.
What are some online communities that you've made friendships within? That you find comfort in?
I have yet to find one yet
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