Since I was 13, I’ve been talking to people online. At first, it was from penpal websites and harmless, monitored chat rooms. Now the communications via internet are unlimited. With the revolution of MMORPGs and programs such as Ventrilo Cast, and Team Speak, as well as Skype, and a multitude of other communication and social avenues, communication is at its peak..or is it?

One thing I haven’t tried is these online dating services, such as eHarmony, or Yahoo Personals, though I must admit I’ve done my share of browsing. I wonder…as I look through pages and pages of both pictured and pictureless people looking for love, if it actually works.

A friend of mine recently moved to a foreign country. She had visited there several times, and had met a boy along the way…and they started an online relationship which eventually led to becoming engaged. When she moved down there…they began to date in real life, and she realized that he was not what she had always imagined, but was actually a controlling fellow, with a serious need to have things go his way. He was soon dumped…which turned out to be a big deal for their culture, considering being engaged was practically as committing as being officially married…

Anyway, I wonder how truly we can know someone we talk to online, whether a completely platonic penpal, or a romantic relationship. Isn’t there a look in their eyes that you need to see…a way about them…don’t you need to be frequently in their presence to truly know them?

I definately think that internet relationships are easier. You get bored…or frustrated…or have a fight, all ya gotta do is power off your computer and voila! Confrontation avoided. And, unless you use voice server technologies, you don’t need to worry about shouting matches…etc…or getting caught cheating.

But how can you really know that the person you are talking with is who he/she says they are? I mean, sure you’ve heard their voice, scene tons of pictures…but can you really know them? Online, people can be whomever they want to be. In fact, for many it is a sort of escape…who deals with real life in their spare time, right? But also…maybe it is a venue to be who you always wanted to be wrather then who you really are.

So…do online dating services really work? Or better yet, do online relationships really work? Do people get married? Sure I’ve seen the ads on tv, and heard the supposed testimonials, but I really wonder….did they have to have a fully real-life relationship before it worked properly…or did they fall in love on the internet? How can you fall in love on the internet if you’re not entirely sure who the person on the other keyboard is?