Master Raf wrote:
One can express opinions without denigrating the opinions of others.
Not on here, the usual voices banging the one twue, only way drum.
Online works for many, and is valid, for others it doesn't and that is fair enough.
For many the lack of physical touch is the killer, and that is a very hard thing to get past. For others their particular activity, skill can't translate to an online medium, and there is no way round that.
I think it is entirely valid for anyone to say I can't get what I need out of an online situation, but when that is accompanied by dismissing, ridiculing words, words that put a position forward that anyone doing online is somehow lesser, well that's not valid. Its also not true that only cheaters operate online, plenty of them out there in the in person environment too. Also not true that predators only operate online. There are some very bitter nasty people about, that sadly can't express their views with out seeking to attack and tear people down, that's a shame.
I started off online, many, many years ago, then after a few months moved into in person spaces and mostly operated in person for many years before I met a few interesting people, and with them did what I did online, it worked well. Three years ago I met someone special on here and as I have said before had a wonderful time with her, all online. There was a depth to things I had not experienced before in any of my in person experiences. Now this was not a case of online being a perfect medium, but more a case of two people meeting who got on like a house on fire and made it work for as long as was possible. It was wonderful and it was all online.
I am now in a position where I am involved with a number of people in person, and currently not anything online, except in regards to keeping contact/maintaining those dynamics, but I would certainly not dismiss getting involved in an only online thing again. For myself I do not have to have physical touch, and I have plenty of things I enjoy doing that can be done via an online medium, and exploring headspaces is wonderful.
For those that can't do this, you absolutely have a right to state that for yourselves it doesn't work, I respect that, but you have no right to attack others, dismiss and deride those who make it work and enjoy it, I have zero respect for those that do that, often the case on these threads, and often coming from the same places.