There are times in our lives when we want to escape our everyday lives.
Whether we are swamped at work, feeling lonely or maybe home life is stressful or lacking something, finding some an online world through our computers may offer an escape.
When you need to find somewhere calm or friends that are outside your regular circle, the internet may be your saving grace for escape into the virtual world that it connects to.
It is a virtual bridge that can take you away for a short period of time and give you some respite from the stresses of reality.
Escape with Computing and Internet
While we often think of the internet as a place where not a lot of good can happen, there are some things you can find that are positive and can make you feel better when you need to escape the realities of life.
While social media and news sites can drive you crazy sometimes, there are sites that can change that feeling of negativity around.
When your real world feels crazy there are some online sites that can give us both mindless and positively challenging ways to escape through our keyboards and monitors.
Reddit – Here is where you need to be careful in your perusing.
You can read lots of negative stuff, but Reddit has some good too.
Try r/Eyebleach when you sign in.
While it sounds rather scary, its actually a site that will bring you some joy and peace.
This particular site is a community for sharing links of beauty, happiness or ones that are tastefully sexy.
Pictures are specifically posted to bring some joy to your short term escape.
Also, try looking at r/aww on Reddit for more cute content.
Once you find these sites, the use subreddit to find more as it can narrow to your personal preferences.
You will be able to interact with the sites, read and leave comments.
You can personal message someone and the testing for chat is in beta mode but coming soon so you can chat one on one or in a group.
Online Groups and Forums
Finding online groups and forums is something that is becoming easier to do as more internet groups make computer communication easier.
There are lots of different groups you can find that will highlight your interests or hobbies.
Do a simple internet search for your hobby with a group or forum after it such as “theatre group” or “theatre forum” and then see what is listed.
You can also look for groups on Yahoo or Google.
Look through the categories, maybe something like health or exercise, and then do an advanced search for the group or hobby in the group search.
Once you find a group, then introduce yourself.
Don’t just lurk in the background.
You can peruse posts and threads of chats to see who is in the group an what they like to discuss and how everyone communicates.
Every online group has its own way of doing things.
It is important to know how people interact so you can take part to the fullest.
You can enjoy this virtual world of friends and escape into an area where others like things that you do as well.
Sharing a hobby is a great way to do this.
You can keep your new friends online or move it safely to the real world if you want to but the choice of how you escape is yours.
Social Media
While Facebook has its downfalls, it has made it easy to find friends and interest groups.
Groups can be fan-based, or hobby groups, maybe literature, social and all can lead to meaningful connections.
There are lots that you can join.
Again, you just need to search what you are interested in and then browse the options that come up.
Facebook algorithms will target you with ads based on your search so you may even find more groups that you can join that are outside of the main social media They will allow you to chat as a group or go to direct messages and talk one on one or in a smaller group.
Lots of ways to escape on the internet and find others who are looking to do the same.
Blogs and Websites
Find sites you like and start commenting with some thoughtful ideas.
You may start to recognize others who love to talk as well.
Easy way to start a conversation.
There are sites that will introduce you to others as well.
These sites allow you to choose whether to keep your computer and internet escape only online or move into reality.
Online Gaming
This is a great way to escape into a virtual world.
You can become a character that you make up and talk to others when you find being yourself difficult.
You can follow fantasy storylines, be the hero or the warrior.
Virtual gaming lets you experience a world that takes you away from your real one.
There are games where you can join a hockey team or other sports groups, you can play war games or traverse fantasy worlds with a team or on your own.
You can be yourself or be someone else completely.
You are not expected to be you.
The people you meet in these virtual worlds are expecting imagination and online skills to match their own.
A great way to enjoy some time off and escape.
Find Virtual companionship
Finding virtual company is not difficult.
You can find a casual acquaintance, someone for a quick flirtation or find someone for a potential long term relationship.
You can keep it on the internet, or you can move it to the real world.
How do you find virtual company?
You search.
You find sites that suit your purposes.
If you just want to chat then sites that let you discuss something you like is great, if you want something more intimate then there are sites for that as well.
You can chat on a dating site, you can game with a team of people you have never met or go all out and meet up online with someone who is looking for some serious chatting and perhaps some future meetups.
Finding virtual company is a great way to find some relationships.
Just always be safe and make sure those you are talking to have good intentions.
Escape via the Virtual but stay single
While many people are meeting up in a virtual world, there are those that are not looking for an in-depth relationship.
They want to escape but have no interest in being in any sort of relationship.
If you want to be single, then be selective on where you interact online.
Gaming is a good way to create relationships but remain fairly anonymous.
You can interact at various depths but do not have to give away any personal information.
This can apply to most sites beyond dating.
You do not have to ever give out information you are not comfortable with giving.
You can still be part of groups and games to escape in a virtual world, but you can choose how much to interact and share.
If you want to stay single, then you simply keep your interactions online and uncommitting.
You can enjoy your virtual escape without losing your single status.
