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It's amazing how the internet has changed the way we meet new peoplle. I've known quite a few friends with a penchant for chatting endless hours on end , in brainless chatrooms, who have actually hooked up with another person. Although I can't vouch whether they form the perfect match, it seems a swell idea. You can have a life spending endless hours on the net instead of going out to socialize. Turns closet freaks into amiable party animals? Maybe , maybe not.
I remember subscribing to some kid magazines, back in the olde days. There was a large 2 page section in this magazine called Target, devoted entirely for kids who wanted to make "pen-pals". Eager kids would put up their name and address and anyone could reply stating their interests. If they found you cool, they'd write back. It was 15 years ago but long distance phone calls were out of the question. It force you to sit down and devote a ream to writing about things. Did'nt matter what. Whatever was on your 10-year old mind. I wrote to someone. He never wrote back. That was the end of it. But I would read about these kids who'd write in and say how they had made new friends. I gave up after that one effort. Maybe the kid died, or maybe he hated my guts, whatever. No idea. Just some village kid, after all.
The internet is a nice way for shy people to start out making new friends. You need to sift through a lot of coal and rock to find a diamond. Be safe, and use good judgement. Everything isn't black and white.