This is an example of a relationship in which the people, feeling strongly attracted to each other online, exchange pictures, phone calls and finally meet. This is one end of a spectrum, the other end of which would be people who fall in love online but maintain their love relationship entirely online, only relating through text. What might be the differences in "love" for this hypothetical couple as opposed to the case study example?
I think the reason so many of us enjoyed this story is because it had a happy ending. Would this same ending have occured if Alexis and Craig never actually met? I doubt it. While the internet no doubt fostered this growing relationship in its early phases, to feel like a real relationship you need to be able to interact with the other person. It would be sad to only experience love over cyberspace and never actually be able to be with the person. In the situation where a couple maintains their relationship entirely online, I feel at some point the lack of physical interaction would put a serious strain on the relationship. Suler states "humans need physical contact with each other. Infants sink into depression and die without it...Adults being deprived of tactile contact for long periods will tell you just how depriving it feels." I agree with Suler I think that many people take for granted the impact a handshake, hug or kiss can have on our day. Adults can't live a normal, healthy life without physical interaction with another person which is why I feel the relationship taking place strictly on the Internet would not be nearly as prosperous as Alexis and Craigs.
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I agree! I am beginning to see that it is possible for people to develop strong feelings for people through the internet but I don't believe that it is possible for a relationship to exist entirely in cyberspace. While the article I am about to site discusses the "importance" of touch when it comes to infants its idea translate well for adults. Physical interaction or touch helps people gain trust with one another which is essential in a relationship and I dont know one person that would disagree with that statement. Like I said I think you are right on that Alexis maybe developed strong feelings or attraction to Craig but falling in love requires physical interaction.
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point, Kait. I definitely wouldn't have had the same (positive, overall) reaction to the story if they had never met in person. Without that final step of bringing things into the real world, it would've seemed like a missed opportunity rather than a success story.
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