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Friendship via IP packets

There was a time when your neighbours were defined by geography.

The further someone lived from your house, the less likely you were to know them.

Today the reverse almost seems to be the norm.

In today's fast-paced world, there are many people who've never said more than a passing "hello" to their closest neighbours. Those living just metres away may effectively be complete strangers, thanks to technology.

As I've said in previous columns, this dissolution of close community began with television, and the internet looks set to finish it off.

However, although the TV turned neighbours into strangers by keeping us tucked away in our living rooms of an evening, instead of sharing our time with those living nearby, the internet is at least opening new doors -- albeit ones that are often half a world away.

I'm talking about the friendships that develop by way of online communities and interest-groups.

Over the past 12 months or so I've seen several examples of real, old-fashioned neighbourhood support at work in cyberspace.

One group of like-minded folks to which I belong and who connect online have on several occasions rallied around to support each other in ways that are heart-warming and a joy to behold.

In one case, a member who lives in a country (Cuba) where the materials and components needed to enjoy the hobby concerned could not be purchased had hoped to "get started" after months of simply watching and listening to the activities of those in more Western nations.

In a matter of days, the rest of the members had organised a whip-round and boxes of otherwise unavailable items were on their way to this guy from all corners of the globe. One of those involved even organised the stuff to be dropped off by a pilot who regularly flew to the region involved.

Nobody asked to be paid but many folks trawled through their workshops and garages to find items they no longer needed but which might benefit another, less fortunate soul.

I've also seen the same people hand around the virtual hat to help out others who found themselves in need of financial support (by way of loss or bad fortune) and again, it's all done without expectation of repayment or reward.

This is absolutely amazing -- especially when you consider that in some cases, the people on the receiving end of the help have never met any of the others in the group.

To be honest, I know of very few neighbourhoods or communities where this kind of generosity or kindheartedness still exists in "the real world".

When I look at my own list of "good friends" I also realise that a good number of the people on that list live thousands of Kms from me and are folk that I've never (yet) met in person.

I've been living in my present abode for over two years now -- but I don't know the names of my neighbours. I have a small handful of friends that live locally and a few more that live elsewhere in NZ, however I have dozens of online friends I've never met who live in distant lands.

So there's the proof -- if the internet has one done good thing, it's enabled us to extend the hand of friendship beyond our own street, suburb, town or city.

Such friendships easily transcend the barriers of race, religion and politics; leaving me to wonder if (eventually) the social value of the internet will be the most valuable thing it has to offer mankind.

Oh yeah, that and free music ;-)

What do you think?

Do you have a good list of friends who you've never met but regularly correspond with via email, skype or IM?

Has the existence of the internet extended or altered the geography of your own "good friends" list?

Have you observed any wonderful acts of kindness or generosity within the online interest groups you use?

Is the Net making the world a better place by extending the reach of "friendship"?

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