In Five Years, do you see yourself...

[Kim Taehyung]

still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time? Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them? Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist, and B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

These are questions that came up between myself and my boyfriend Andy. Right now, talking to a lot of people on the forums is part of my daily routine, and I love coming here every day. Hell, everyone on here knows that Damon and I are basically best friends on here, and I even hope to one day meet him. But Would a friendship online actually last over time?

That's my main question I'm asking. What do you all think?

 

[Eight]

I see this as a pass time, and I love socialising. So I probably may end up being here for a while. Maybe I'll meet some people, maybe not, but as long as I have MSN of facebook which have became more of a daily routine for me than lunch and dinner.

The forums have probably also became a daily routine, too. Come to think of it, I come online on this more than Facebook. So I probably may end up talking to you lot for a while 8F.

Future can be unpredictable though, so...y'know, I guess that's more of a reason to enjoy it for now.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

Probably not.

Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

Probably not.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist,

Probably, however, I do think it'll be under a different ownership.

and B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

Probably not.

To be honest, it completely depends on where my education route takes me. I'll probably still be on at the beginning of uni should I get in, but after that I have no idea.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Honestly I don't think that online friendships are real.

That sounds bad, but I mean once you meet in real life you're not who you are on the internet most of the time. Most people are rather fake because it's easy to be like that behind a monitor.

I tend not to get too involved in that I would fly to another country in order to meet someone etc. The idea of the forums in my opinion is to relax and get away from your life for a bit.

If I started meeting everyone then it wouldn't feel like that as much somehow. =/

still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

To be honest most likely not because I won't have the internet next year.

Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

No I don't really intend to get that involved.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist, and B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

Maybe. They have lasted a long time as it is and it would be nice if they continued on. Though I doubt I'll still be here.

Hope I didn't sound like a bitch, but they're just my thoughts.

 

[.Tifa]

Hope is here in five years time, mean just started to grow here and adapt to the format and meet everybody here. Don't really see meeting any of guys in the future unless it's a total random act of fate.... Like Kandy- Sugar said online Friends and Friends are two different things and wouldn't put them in the same pile/ box...

Think the forums will still be existing but it would be totally different. Learnt from a different Forum that new people are the people that change everything and the whole balance of the Forum. They control what is going to happen in the future if they stay along long enough to control the change..

Though is training to become a psychologist and they take alot of work study and time..
So kinda see self being a hardout serious person and then coming here now and then to just break free and just be a goof on the chatbox for a total of hours..

Also reckon the future depends on the Final Fantasies if Final Fantasy XIII ends up being a flop then some people may give up on the series and therefore end up leaving the forum, unless they have a strong relationship with the people here..

But yeah can see self poping in here now and again and speaking about FF15 and FF16 and getting hyped up over the new characters and summons etc =D

 

[Amizon]

Hmm, this is an interesting thread.

still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

No doubt in my mind that I will. Some of the people on FFF I usually speak to MSN - namely Danny, Damon, Sonny, Mandi, Mark, Lisa, etc.

Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

Was planning to meet Danny, but then something came up. Of course I do imagine seeing them someday. It'll have to be the ones closer to me for the time being.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist, and B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

A. Again, no doubt in my mind. I was on a site called KHInsider, which I've been on there for four years, that has existed since the end of 2003. On the other hand, I no longer dwell there because some people have moved on.

B. It's a great community, probably so that I shall be on here still. Can't seem to get enough of this place. I've got loads of things that tie me down (not bad things, mind you) and it's the best forums I've ever come to.

But Would a friendship online actually last over time?

Well, let's put it this way. I've had online friends from here for nearly three years now. I've been on the site for three years as well and my online friendships have been challenged at times. We've had our disagreements and that, but they've been quite rare to say the least. So if I can still have those online friendships, then I suppose you could say it actually lasts over time.

 

[Shu]

Still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

Well probably, I am pretty open about keeping in touch with people online. I don't mind cutting loose although I never get too personal on here with them.

Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

Maybe, it all depends on the financial capabilities and such. I mean seriously it would be really hard to do a meet up if people are a no show when I've flown or driven miles to see them.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist

Sure, FFF will probably exist. I see people putting funds aside say LG were to change ownership. I mean this is a home to a lot of people.

B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

Maybe, it really all depends of how drastic the forum changes. If it is run by a bunch of the younger crowd and members start being mistreated.. I'll take my leave, but since that has never happened to my knowledge I stick around and enjoy myself.

----------

Aside from these questions I originally came to Final Fantasy Forums, because at that time FF12 was just released. I was pretty far in the game and had some info to offer, as well as info to take in myself. I really didn't think this would be a social thing, just more of a game faq for things I wasn't really aware of. I mean I love shooting this shiz about games, because I do take unique approaches at most of them that can be insightful for a bunch of folks. What you see is what you get on the forums though, I am a pretty outgoing person. If I met you I would either hug or give you a handshake, it's always been in my nature. I also think online friends can be real friends, just needs to be boundaries in such which they can't cross that normal every day people can.

 

[Bambi]

Eh, 5 years? Who knows where I'l be, I can imagine I'l still have the internet, providing I dont have another mishap with the hoover, even if Im no longer on FFF/it no longer exists there's still the people I have on MSN and facebook. I can't say I'l be as active, I mean, 5 years is a long way off, and well, the crowd gets younger everyday as I'm getting older, so I might just stop coming, who knows?

I'l defo meet people from here, I dont think that just becuase its online, peole can't be real friends, I've made afew good friends here, even if it gets to the point where its jsut the odd emailed hello from time to time, how are you etc, there's afew people I'd just liek to stay in touch with regardless of anything else.
I'm the same irl as I am online I'd say, most difference will be that I may be abit shy for about 5 minutes, but then, it took me a while to settle in here as well, so it's a given I guess, Ive already met a few people and I'm meeting more in afew weeks and I'd certainly never rule out meeting anyone if it was doable, I'l do out I will, life's just one big adventure

 

[Serah]

Honestly I don't think that online friendships are real.

That sounds bad, but I mean once you meet in real life you're not who you are on the internet most of the time. Most people are rather fake because it's easy to be like that behind a monitor.

I tend not to get too involved in that I would fly to another country in order to meet someone etc. The idea of the forums in my opinion is to relax and get away from your life for a bit.

If I started meeting everyone then it wouldn't feel like that as much somehow. =/

...that was way harsh. <.< I suppose I'll remember that next time I talk to you.

still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

Yes, there are a select few I can see myself never parting from.

Do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

Yes and very soon actually.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exist

Honestly I don't know. I'm sure they probably will but it's hard to say really.

B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

I honestly don't know. Who knows really...

So yeah anyway, I think there are a few people on here that I'll still remain in contact with. One in particular being Kelly. Neither of us are hardly fake and we know more about each other than a lot of people know. She's coming to visit me next year so we'll definitely be meeting. I don't see how in five years our friendship will be any different. I'll most likely have the internet still, but who knows where I'll be or what I'll be doing.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

...that was way harsh. <.< I suppose I'll remember that next time I talk to you.

I didn't mean to sound harsh and I suppose I may have worded it a little wrong and it came out that way.

I've had my fair share of disappointments in the past with online friends. Two very close ones who I even sent birthday presents to in the post and such for nearly three years and we were really close until one day they just didn't care about me anymore and even told me so. =/ (Obviously not at exactly the same time. One lived in Australia and one in the UK).

So I try not to get too close with anyone because I'd rather not set myself up for that again.

My friend even met up with a couple of people and they turned out to be quite the opposite of who they said they were and this was after two years of talking online, so that really upset him and because he was our close friend, it upset us too. =/

It doesn't mean I don't enjoy talking to people online and having a laugh, it just means I back off a bit if ever there is 'we should meet up' talk and such.

Also I don't like to get anyone's hopes up that I'd be around forever as things change, like today when something happened at home.

When I said that I don't think that they're real, I meant that they're not like your real life here at home friends and it won't be like that until you finally do meet up, and then there is always the chance that you'll find that they're not who you thought they were.

And I understand that not everyone is like this and such, I'm just saying that my last few experiences have been rather disappointing when it comes to this matter and also why I didn't use the internet for a good two years before coming here.

I am sorry if I unintentionally offended anyone . v_v

 

[Kim Taehyung]

I'm glad i made this thread.

So far, I'm still in the process of collecting everyones' MSN, so i don't have too many people on there I talk to. It's mainly Damon, tbqh. And yes, to answer some of my own questions:

Still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?

I think that, with the right people and the right situations, online friendships really can last over time. They're just like real-life friendships. If you want to keep that friendship, you have to keep making connections, like Kelly just said, even if it's the odd 'how are you?' type e-mail, I still want to keep contact with those I chat with on here on a regular basis.

do you even see yourself one day meeting some of them?

Yes, but right now it's mainly working on a chance basis. I don't have the funds nor the resources to plan an international trip just to see someone, though I would really like to. My school, every other year, goes to Ireland or the UK. I was hoping for one of these trips to become available since Financial Aid would totally fund my trip. Damon and I were kind of counting on this this past summer to work out so that I could be in Europe by May 2010, but it didn't work out. I, at the very least, am still clinging to the hope for the 2011 trip to be to UK or somewere close to a lot of you guys on here.

Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exis

to put it simply: if there is still FF, there will most likely still be an FFF to discuss it.

B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?

Now this question I really can't answer. i have no idea what the future holds for me, so I have no idea whether I will be on here or not. My opinion is to just enjoy it while i'm still on.

 

[Serah]

I didn't mean to sound harsh and I suppose I may have worded it a little wrong and it came out that way.

I've had my fair share of disappointments in the past with online friends. Two very close ones who I even sent birthday presents to in the post and such for nearly three years and we were really close until one day they just didn't care about me anymore and even told me so. =/ (Obviously not at exactly the same time. One lived in Australia and one in the UK).

So I try not to get too close with anyone because I'd rather not set myself up for that again.

My friend even met up with a couple of people and they turned out to be quite the opposite of who they said they were and this was after two years of talking online, so that really upset him and because he was our close friend, it upset us too. =/

It doesn't mean I don't enjoy talking to people online and having a laugh, it just means I back off a bit if ever there is 'we should meet up' talk and such.

Also I don't like to get anyone's hopes up that I'd be around forever as things change, like today when something happened at home.

When I said that I don't think that they're real, I meant that they're not like your real life here at home friends and it won't be like that until you finally do meet up, and then there is always the chance that you'll find that they're not who you thought they were.

And I understand that not everyone is like this and such, I'm just saying that my last few experiences have been rather disappointing when it comes to this matter and also why I didn't use the internet for a good two years before coming here.

I am sorry if I unintentionally offended anyone . v_v

I acknowledge you've had bad experiences as well as I have. However you need to keep in mind that not all of us are exactly the same. Not all of us are fake and not all of us want to screw you over. I have online friends who I've been friends with for years. Two of them which I've met in person already. They're nobody from here but I've known them for almost 5 years now. They've come to visit me quite a few times and I'm actually going to visit one of them next month and stay the weekend with her. Just because you had a couple of bad experiences doesn't mean you should totally write off internet friendships. To me, all friendships are the same. Internet and real life and neither should ever be taken for granted.

 

[Shu]

This thread almost makes me want to draw up of another one based of personal experiences. Online friends and such, what travesties may have occurred or what good things you've gained from having these relationships.

Since most of this really has to do with FFF I'll keep it relative to my last post. Now like I said I would lovvvvveee to meet new people from FF in person, because its one of my favorite things to do as long as they are not the same closed minded crowd like down here. The whole part is though, we all have things in the way in which take us down a route, for instance I'm engaged, to drive or fly to a location to see people who I've never met is a bit irrational for my fiance. I have a very likable personality in person, but I'd rather not let any ... well ... insecurities flare up. Establishing foundation in my marriage is my most important thing right now.. and trust me.. we are going at it quite a bit trying to get there =P. (only recent). But since topic deals with 5 years from now... Sure.. why not.. I trust people online more than I do in person, unless of course they don't have any friends or distanced themselves from their family.

I have seen people fake identities for quite a bit and never reveal themselves because that is part of their online persona. For instance MLFY (no offense bud) but I could never make odds and end out of you Adri. You are the most perplexing individual on the forum, and maybe there is a reason behind it. I don't go out of my way though for people to show me who they truly are.. I honestly think its unhealthy to act a different way than you act in person. (this is directed at Kandy's statement now).

Why have such low self esteem to get online a fake an entire persona, and then actually have the guts to ask for a meet up. Ever seen.. "how to catch a online predator?" or whatever that show is.. these people remind me of these scenarios.

So in short sure.. I see myself on FFF in five years, but I go through phases of activity. If I don't approve of the people on the forum at the time... meaning tons of trolling or admin abuse (like I've seen from other forums) then I'm likely to head out and never look back.

 

[DarkSquall]

PPL I want to meet in RL:
Jimmeh
Lew
Kelly
Jess
Kira
TYK
Argor
Damon
Gaaramaster

I want to meet those ppl and I'll do the best I can to meet them, even if it's 20 years from now.

 

[CassinoChips]

No. I hate you all.

I'm notoriously bad about keeping in contact with people. I'm not a conversation initiator, for the most part, so if someone doesn't e-mail/message/whatever me, I tend to ... just... forget. Until it's 4 months later and I don't even know if they're still alive. That being said, I can see myself trying to keep in touch with a few people here as we branch off and do other things in other places. May even meet a couple people, if circumstances allow. Stranger things have happened.

I think the forums will stick around for quite some time, barring something catastrophic. And even if this particular forum goes by the wayside, I'd be surprised if someone here didn't resurrect the concept somewhere else.

And I'll probably still be around. You can't get rid of me that easily.

 

[Dionysos]

I'll stay on this forum as long as it exists / I live. Unless something major happens in my life... Like I suffer severe memory loss and amnesia and I forget you all existed.

My levels of activity may vary over the years or months depending on what my life is like at the time, but I'll probably still be here.


I do hope to keep in contact with people... But, like Cassino, I'm not much of a conversation initiator myself. I tend to want to talk to people for example on msn, but rarely make the first message in case the other person is busy. If someone talks to me though I'll always reply when I read the message and would love to talk. I'm just awkward like that. The SB is different because it isn't directed at anyone in particular and you can't be invading anyones privacy or annoying them by typing to them in that, and they can just ignore it if you do without social embarassment.

I'll have to change my ways if this forum goes down and msn and facebook are the only contact I have with them though. I've met (well, read) a lot of amazing people here and it would be a shame if suddenly something happened and everyone went their seperate ways and we all lost contact. I don't see that happening to that extreme though.


As for meeting people in real life... I can understand where Kandy was coming from in that this is a place where people can put their real life selves aside for a while and be who they really want to be / how they really want to act without fear. This doesn't neccessarily mean that people are false, but that some people may be more confident on these forums and act accordingly, whereas in real life they might be the same person but have a different way of presenting themselves / at least different to how people would imagine them from reading their posts. They might sound different to what people imagined, or they might carry themselves in a different manner. It can be quite a scary thing. Though they are the same person underneath, some people may be freaked out and if it goes badly then the relationship on the internet might be ruined.

I've never met anyone from online though... I saw one once. A girl I used to speak to a lot on msn who a real life friend of mine knew.. I saw her while I was buying a train ticket and she was in front of me. I was petrfified to be honest. I didn't say a thing and she was none-the-wiser. But that got me thinking. Would she still have talked to me on msn if I did say "hey, it's me!" (which I would probably have mumbled), or would that mean she would have changed her opinion of me and would never talk to me again?

I'd like to meet some of you guys at one point (I nearly met Damon over the summer but due to transport being difficult and him living a fair bit from me I didn't), but I'd have to make sure I'm ready with myself to do it. Right now I'm trying hard to get my bearings and sort my life out so that when I'm released into the wild I sort of resemble a human being. If I convince myself that I'm ok I'll be happier and I'd love to meet people. Most of you in fact... Can't think of anyone that is a regular here that I wouldn't want to meet.

I'll wait to hear the feedback of the big November incident. If it goes well then I might go to the next one whatever it is. If it goes badly, people punch each other in the face, someone takes nude photographs of another person and posts them on the internet, or if everyone falls out / hates each others guts, then I'd rather be spared from all that, and in that case I'd like to keep internet-people seperate. I can't see things getting THAT bad though.

 

[L]

To be honest, I can't really say. Even now, I talk to some of you every once in a while, but usually I'm busy playing video games.

Anything could happen from here on, so it's hard for me to say. I'm not really a person who plans ahead, and I like to think about living in the now instead of the future.

 

[Bambi]

I'll wait to hear the feedback of the big November incident. If it goes well then I might go to the next one whatever it is. If it goes badly, people punch each other in the face, someone takes nude photographs of another person and posts them on the internet, or if everyone falls out / hates each others guts, then I'd rather be spared from all that, and in that case I'd like to keep internet-people seperate. I can't see things getting THAT bad though.

...xD

I totally just faced then xD There's only afew weeks to go, don't have mne dreaming about fisticuffs and other such unfortunate events!! I don't doubt for one second that I will make a twat of myself, and rest assured there will be some cringeworthy pics, I'l be dissapointed if there isn't xD

 

[Mitsuki]

Five years is quite a long time, so I honestly don't know. If the forum does still exist, it'll probably look a bit different, who knows? If I am still around, it'll be quite rare. By then I should be a registered nurse if I'm lucky, so my time and availability shall be spent mostly offline (as it should be). I'll still try and keep in contact with my close friends here, of course...but now that I think about it, I only have a very select few that I can really open up to and really call real friends and they know who they are. There's those that I chat with from time to time but ever since I've been on staff it seems that the close relationships with members back then have been in tender waters lately and it's just a matter of reminding ourselves that there's more to just 'chatting' about forum-related stuff and actually chillin' out as friends. Those are the kind of convos I missed.

But anyway, I would love to keep on hangin' on to FFF for as long as I could, but sometimes we also have to set our main priorities in life and those comes first.

 

[Moogles]

I was an active member in another online community several years ago, and during my time there, I made plenty of friends. Will I ever actively pursue meeting them in real life? No.

It's nothing personal. I live in Pennsylvania, and everyone else lives...well...wherever. I've got neither the time nor money to embark on journeys across the world or the United States for that matter.

"Still keeping in contact with the people you talk to on here all the time?"

I don't talk with anyone on here regularly or even occasionally. I'm sure you fellows are great, but I typically keep to myself. I gave IM up a long time ago, and I'm not exactly active. However! I do still stay in touch with several people I met online 5 years ago. Some are friends on Xbox Live, some are friends on Facebook, and some I even speak with on the phone from time to time.

"Do you even think that: A. The Forums will still exis"

This site seems particularly active. As long as someone's willing to maintain it, I see no reason why it can't last another 5 years.

"B. if they do, do you see yourself still on?"

Sadly, no. Not a chance. In 5 years, I'll be an even more obscure character here than I currently am. Completely forgotten. Hell, the chance that I'd be able to remember my log-in information is basically zero.