I don't consider myself an awkward person, and generally deal very well with "awkward" situations. However, one thing that I just can't get over is the transition from a fully fledged cyber friend, such as one only known through Facebook, to a real friend that you know in Real Life.
Our culture is changing, and it is now fully acceptable to never have met someone face to face and yet still forge a legitimate friendship (online). But...where this seems to end is when one must move from the internet aspect of a friendship to one that involves, I'll say it, normal interaction. For some reason it is seemingly impossible to form an ordinary amount of closeness once the door to the real world has been opened. There is just something different with a relationship not developed first in person to one solely started online.
This brings me to an event that occurred a few weeks ago. Though I must first qualify the interaction.
In the age of networks indicating common interest it is pretty run of the mill to be "friended" by someone in the same network regardless of previous interaction. In this instance, with going into college, it seems evident that some people would like to get acquainted prior to arriving to school. So, I became "friends" with a girl who was going to attend the same university. Standard. And on multiple occasions we "chatted", left posts, and had an amicable cyber friendship. Also Standard.
However, upon arrival to school, and seeing each other at multiple times she nor I attempted to say hello, or even acknowledge each others existence. There was just something that had been established. As if this something was a wall that made it impossible for us to be friends.
Now comes the fun part... Very often I would see this girl at the gym and many times she would avoid ever having to come near me, in case we might have to actually talk, which would be out of the question of course. Despite that, one day, while leaving the gym and walking blindly down the street (not aware of the social danger I was in) I came upon said girl waiting to cross the street. Since I hadn't been seen I was presented with two options. I could either pretend not to see her and stay back or say Hi...God Forbid. I chose the former, yet in a stroke of courage I attempted to follow a gutsy person across the street; but, was cut off by a car and was now stuck right in front of the girl.
Needless to say, I said Hello. And experienced one of the most awkward moments of my life, including the walk back to our dorms which happen to be next to each other...fate?
Since that day, we have yet to say any more to each other or create a true friendship. Moral of the story being... Next time you want to say hello to someone you see, don't go friend them later at home, just DO IT, and you might actually make another friend.
Image Source: Facebook.com
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