This is gonna be the thread where we talk about stuff

As much as I enjoy the company of my online friends [really, you guys are wonderful], the lack of physical proximity leaves me keenly aware of the absence of a feature exclusive to in-person socialization: the ability to JUST enjoy someone's company. Friends sitting apart, each involved in their own isolated entertainments, yet glad to be spending idle time together.

I can relate to this, it's the main reason i don't go to IRC as often as i used to. Not because you guys are not "entertaining" enough but because i feel like that kind of interaction doesn't appease my loneliness, which is dumb: Feeling lonely? = Isolate yourself. It also makes me feel like a jerk.

This conversation reminded me of that one time back in the mspaf when we tried to have a fast and slow chat threads*. It got me thinking about what makes me appreciate people and i realized that i don't really share that many interests with some of my closer friends, or at least not ones i'm super passionate about; having meaningful relationships, for me, it's more about interacting with genuine, insightful people - that's what makes me enjoy their company, to know that they're not ashamed to show who they truly are and enjoy the fact that i'm willing to do the same. In fact, i think i don't share many interests with some of you guys but i still enjoy your (online) company because you're all nice and pleasant people. So basically, what i'm trying to say is that i love y'all. xoxo.

*If you don't know what i'm talking about, back when the mspa forums had a general chat thread, a group of new users took over it with fast posting and general white noise. Some people didn't liked this kind of interactions and thus tried to start a slower, more insightful chat thread. In the end none of that worked out and both groups just kind of made their own forums which is why ET exists now i guess.