Can Online Friends Stick by You even in Hard Times?

The word “Friend” holds a very dear meaning to us. Friends are your partners, the people who are close like family. They know all of our secrets and we know theirs. Through sunshine and rain they are always by our side. Supporting us from the side-lines. Cheering us on when we fall down, encouraging us to keep moving forward.
As Torin Rush said:

“Your true friends will slowly reveal themselves over time… In the end you’ll discover who is fake, who is true and who would risk it all for you. And trust me, some people will totally surprise you”.

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Virtual Helping Hands are hard to grab:

Nowadays with the increasing popularity of media, people have become rather conservative about themselves and they have a hard time trusting others. Thus most people try not to rely on direct contact rather they use the cyber platform to make their friends. But unfortunately life is not virtual reality. So when hardships falls on a person in reality, he tends to ask around for support, but unfortunately their online friends cannot extend their arms to them from their computer screens.

Distinguishing between True Friends and False Friends:

It is in fact hard times that befall a person that determines true friends from fake ones. Online friends tend to give advice to the person but when if the person goes bankrupt or faces any sort of loss, his “Online” friends suddenly go “Offline”. They turn their backs to the person. Even going as far as blocking him. And the person who dedicated his time to these people ends up in a chain of isolation.
According to John Green, who wisely stated:

“I dislike the phrase “Internet friends”, because it implies that people you know online are not really your friends, that somehow the friendship is less meaningful or real to you because it happens through Skype or text messages. The measure of a friendship is not its physicality but its significance. God friendships, online or off, urge us towards empathy, they give us comfort and also pull us out of the prisons of our selves”.

What Ture Friends actually Do:

True friends are the ones that come running when they find you facing any sort of trouble. They worry for you sincerely. They provide help in any possible way they can. Though it is very rare to find true friends these days, as it seems like everyone has a hidden agenda behind their smiles. With the innovations in society, people search for friends with benefits, ultimately leaving most people to seek help from strangers online.

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The Mask of Strangers:

It is even easier to talk about ones troubles with anonymous people online then ones’ own parents. With the expectations that society has from a person, the enormous pressure makes the person belittle himself. He then seeks help from strangers who open their arms to them. Or so it seems. Online friendship cannot help a person survive in reality. The people they meet virtually are not as they seem to be. Though they may cast their sweet spells of friendship on the person but their true nature and personalities remain a secret.
It is as they say:

“Do not fear the enemy that attacks you but fear the fake friend that hugs you”.

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Conclusion:

It is actually quite foolish to rely on someone who one doesn’t even know anything about. They could lie their hearts out to the person and the person becomes a victim of theirs. He falls for every word they say. But in the end if he has any emergency in life, he needs a kidney transplant, or his house was destroyed in a storm, then these so called friends start showing their true colours. It is when a man is most vulnerable and when he is in the need for help the most does he find the people around him taking off their masks, and revealing their true selves to the person. It is not wise to make friends with people you know nothing about. Everything is not what it seems to be.
It was advised that:

“Never confuse the people around you with the people who are there for you”.