I realized something recently. I realized that it is totally possible to exist without ever leaving your home.

It is possible to buy pretty much everything you need online – groceries, clothes, basic medicines, books, toys. It is also possible to work from home, so no need to travel to an office. If you have kids you can home school them. You never need to leave the four walls of your home – EVER! How scary is that?

Yes, be proud of your home office, but at what cost?

If you are single you would think in order to meet people you would have to get out right? WRONG!

With things like Facebook, online dating, twitter, blogging it is possible to meet people online. It is possible to form relationships over mails or IMs. Skype makes it possible to actually interact with another person. It is possible to see them, hear them – so you are able to visualize them.

Can you have a relationship over the monitor??

With all of these available it may even be possible to have a deeper relationship with someone. If you read their blog you get an insight into their life, their emotions. If you follow them on twitter, you know first hand what they are up to daily. You can text should they not be online. Technology puts us slap bang in the middle of each others lives. The original anonymity also often enables us to be a little more confident, to take on a persona we would like to have. So we say things we wouldn’t normally. We take risks we wouldn’t normally.

Being anonymous gives you greater freedom?

Sounds pretty cool hey? You have the www to choose from. You never have to deal with someone in your space. If you don’t like them you can simple unfollow them or remove them as a friend – simple hey? You can have more than one partner. There are no rules on faithful online relationships. It’s a free for all.

I personally find it rather sad. An IM date or a mail conversation can not take the place of a first date. It can not evoke the emotions of excitement and anticipation that a real date does. Skype sex can not come close to feeling skin on skin. A text is not enough. It can not replace a hug or touch.

Yeah, but this is the fun bit, isn’t it?

Yes you may have to deal with face to face rejection or confrontation. You may have to see the pain in her eyes when you break up with her but you also get to see the joy when she opens the door to see you standing there. Technology can never create that.

Human emotion and the need for human touch is something we all have. It is not a want. It is a need. We all need it. While you may find companionship inside your computer you will never fulfill that need!

Any meaningful relationships in there?

So log off, get up, have a shower and go grab a drink with your mates. You never know who you may find along the way. Nothing says you can’t tweet updates from your phone or blog about it all when you get back. Just be careful you don’t miss the pretty girl making eyes at you while you oogle your phone!