A lonely man sits quietly on the grass. The books are read; the television watched. New to town, the man has yet to find any real friends. He can hear people laughing down the street. Three blocks away, a retired librarian is spending yet another day alone. Most of her friends have moved or stopped calling. She finds herself writing endless letters to distant relatives. Many go unanswered, but they fill the time. Loneliness gnaws at those who are isolated, bored or alienated.
For adults alike, the internet offers "relationships [that] can range from the cold, professional encounter, to the hot intimate rendezvous" (Chenault 105). Many online contacts can develop real life romances that begin with surprisingly "honest communication and realistic expectations, traits that many traditional relationships lack at first" (Wolcott 106). The Internet presents new opportunities to connect with others in the neighborhood, across the city, and around the world. The Net has "begun to transform the way in which people interact" (Singh 102) and has brought unlikely people together. However, one must be wary of these online relationships because often people "pretend to be just about anything" (Maasik and Solomon 103). With so many people using the various dating services and chat rooms available through the Net, it cannot be denied that this new technology is adding many options to the different kinds of relationships found; yet, there are hazards that come with chatting and/or forming relationships with people online that one does not know.
How do people meet on the Net? Through chat rooms, bulletin boards, interactive games, and newsgroups. Some are even able to talk 'live' over the computer through instant messaging. Children can easily reach pen-pals in Germany, China, and the West Indies. Social programs have introduced underprivileged children to top-level mentors and teachers. Older users can visit general meeting sites.
