Platonic Love on the Internet

[turtle]

Is it possible to have platonic love on the internet? A virtual relationship is there for the taking. I think most persons are interested in nookie.

[tentative]

Ummm, I wouldn’t want to point out the obvious, but virtual sort of guarantees platonic relationships, doesn’t it?

[Humpty]

I bet there are some fairly close people who met on this very forum who mostly communicate through PMs or email, and who consider each other good friends but who have never met. It’s not uncommon.

[jonquil]

@Humpty

I bet there are some fairly close people who met on this very forum who mostly communicate through PMs or email, and who consider each other good friends but who have never met. It’s not uncommon.

I bet you’d be right.

[turtle]

@tentative

Ummm, I wouldn’t want to point out the obvious, but virtual sort of guarantees platonic relationships, doesn’t it?

TENT---------of course. The important point is------- most persons want nookie.

[jonquil]

@turtle

@tentative

Ummm, I wouldn’t want to point out the obvious, but virtual sort of guarantees platonic relationships, doesn’t it?

TENT---------of course. The important point is------- most persons want nookie.

I don’t think they do. I think they want to feel close and connected, and for many men, the only way they feel they can do that is through sex. This is an offshoot of homophobia, by the way.

[turtle]

@jonquil

@turtle

@tentative

Ummm, I wouldn’t want to point out the obvious, but virtual sort of guarantees platonic relationships, doesn’t it?

TENT---------of course. The important point is------- most persons want nookie.

I don’t think they do. I think they want to feel close and connected, and for many men, the only way they feel they can do that is through sex. This is an offshoot of homophobia, by the way.

JONQUIL--------You make a good point about wanting to be connected and close. I think males are genetically programmed to have an eros drive that won’t quit, more so than females, if you consider a lifespan. Females want babies. I don’t see the offshoot of homophobia thing.

[jonquil]

@turtle

@jonquil

I think they want to feel close and connected, and for many men, the only way they feel they can do that is through sex. This is an offshoot of homophobia, by the way.

JONQUIL--------You make a good point about wanting to be connected and close. I think males are genetically programmed to have an eros drive that won’t quit, more so than females, if you consider a lifespan. Females want babies. I don’t see the offshoot of homophobia thing.

I just think that most men confuse sex and closeness, that’s all. It’s probably because they think their options are limited due to homophobia. How many men would even consider cuddling with their best male friend and watching tv, non sexually of course? Or of walking through the park with a couple of their male friends hugging and holding hands, again platonically?

[tentative]

Jonquil,

I would question the homophobic analysis. To be sure, cultural expections play a part, but there are physiological cues that are part of human relationships that shape behaviors that also go largely unnoticed. I’d rather cuddle with a female because they smell good and males don’t. Females are softer and have interesting shapes males don’t have. Females don’t usually have beards or 5 O’clock shadows. These issues are noticed subconciously and color our decisions without thought. I’m sure that females have their “cues” as well. All of it plays against the background of mate selection. Internet platonic relationships are an extreme abstraction of our basic motivation aimed at procreation. We can’t help that part - male or female.