When we join Twitter, those who befriend us are labeled as “followers”. On Facebook, they’re “friends”.
With blogging, we often label fellow bloggers as “blogging buddies”.
But who are these people, really?
Today’s Lesson
In the comments of the The Cost Of Being Heard post Sara of A Sharing Connection said, in part,
One thing kind of bothers me about the subject of “real” friends and “online” friends I don’t see a great deal of difference, except I can’t see the online person. A friend is a friend. Friendship is about communication and sharing. So what if it’s not face-to-face?
Writing coach Davina of Shades of Crimson shared,
The only time when I feel funny talking to my offline friends about blogging is when I hear myself say, “My online friend so and so said…” It sounds like I have invisible friends, lol. …
In real life it’s easy to label someone we know. We’ll say, “my friend…”, or tag them with a descriptive title such as “my sister”, “my cousin” or “a co-worker.” and whomever we’re talking to, knows exactly who we’re talking about.
But what about the people we meet online? Who are they?
A friend? A follower? An online acquaintance? A fellow blogger? A blogging buddy?
Do we classify them differently because we’ve never met in person?
Are they an acquaintance or blogging buddy first, but after we’ve known them for a while, they earn the “friend” title?
Behind every blog, every Facebook post, and every tweet is a real person with real feelings. Real thoughts. Real emotions.
People just like us.
Although we can’t see them and may never meet them, via words, relationships form.
Are they less important than the relationships we have in the real world?
Maybe not.
Today’s Assignment
When talking to your real life friends about those whom you’ve met online, how do you describe them?
Do you think online and offline friendships/relationships can be equal?
Care to share?
Hi. I'm Barbara Swafford and I'd like to welcome you to Blogging Without A Blog. Grab a seat, share your thoughts and join in the conversation. 
Facebook and Twitter are about communicating and people want to be heard.
Today’s Lesson
Blogging is the same.
Many bloggers will admit their real life friends don’t understand blogging, nor do they have an interest in what we’re blogging about.
Real life friends may think blogging is silly, a passing fad or even a waste of time.
But bloggers know, with having a blog, comes an audience whom we believe are interested in what we publish.
Via comments they validate us or expand on the topic and carry the discussion further.
It feels good to know we’re being heard.
In real life, where others seem to be consumed with their own lives, we may not get that. Hence, our blog becomes our voice.
It’s no wonder when our real life friends do read our blogs or the comments we’ve left elsewhere, they’ll often say, “I didn’t know that about you.”
Today’s Assignment
If a friend or family member read your blog or a comment you left on another site, would they be surprised and find out more about you and your interests?
Care to share?