Every one of us sometimes needs to escape our daily grind.
The same job, the same people, the same routine.
However, there are many people who need to escape in virtual more than just once in a while.
They want to meet new people, feel accepted and build new relationships.
Sometimes that’s hard to do in the circles where they exist on a day to day basis.
There can be many reasons people struggle to be surrounded by people they like in their everyday world but whatever the reason is, it can lead to a virtual life where they find those welcoming groups online.
Why do we need to be surrounded?
Whether we are introvert or extrovert we do not always find the social interaction we need in our world.
We may work, live with others and keep busy or maybe the opposite and be a loner but both types of people can suffer from social isolation.
In a search for meaningful companionship that we are not finding in our current social situations, we may head to a virtual one where we can become surrounded by others who may offer their emotional support and to become good friends.
There may be lots of people in reality but there is no strong connection that we as humans need.
We as humans need connection with others in some form or another and while meeting people online may feel a little scary at first, it can be a good way to surround yourself with new friends and perhaps meet a significant other.
Being online opens a door to a virtual world that has people you would not otherwise meet and can perhaps engage you with others who can offer connections.
We need to be surrounded by others, so we feel appreciated, needed and connected.
This connection is crucial to one’s mental and physical health so it should not be shied away from just because these groups or individuals may be online versus in your day to day lives.
Virtual is the New Social Hub
An individual’s world is no longer made up of only work people, local family and close social spots.
They now can join a virtual world where they can build up their social groups and meet people.
As of 2017, almost 40% of heterosexual couples met online and 65% of same-gender ones did the same.
Meeting significant others through old-time conventional methods has fallen greatly.
People are not meeting through family, neighborhoods, churches or other places that they used to.
Online socializing is growing in leaps and bounds over meeting people through family and friends.
Finding people on the information superhighway is the way to go it seems.
Its convenient, easy to access, lets you control your privacy and move at a pace you are comfortable with.
If you make sure to take proper safety precautions, then there is very little wrong with surrounding yourself with others online to create a social circle that may very well have the potential to turn into relationships beyond the virtual realm.
And the great thing is that even if you never meet them in person, you can still have the benefit of a relationship online that is good as well.
Online Convenience
Needing to be surrounded by other like-minded people is drawn from wanting to be connected.
This is why online interaction is so beneficial.
A person may feel isolated and lack the time to connect with others but if done online it actually is a very convenient way to do it because it is a place that never shuts down.
A connection is available 24/7.
You can log in to any social network site or dating app in the middle of the night if that’s what works for you.
Just don’t go overboard and find you end up sleep deprived, and have it affected your daytime life as well.
You will always find people there who are either other night hawks like you or are simply having trouble sleeping.
Finding others just does not have to happen in the off hours, you can log in at any time.
Whether you are waiting for an appointment, in line at a store, or sitting at home and are bored you can jump online and start to meet people or continue a chat from earlier.
It’s a great way for busy people who are feeling lonely to connect on a spur of the moment and start to feel surrounded by others and gain social connectedness.
Game Free
One of the many issues with surrounding ourselves with others in our everyday world is there are often misinterpreted actions and words.
We need to be surrounded by those we trust and sometimes we lose that through social games that people play.
We get caught up in a web of social complexities that make us uncomfortable and leave us feeling like we have no friends.
Going into the virtual world is pretty straightforward as you can be upfront with what you are expecting and who you want to surround yourself with.
You know if you are on a social networking or dating site that others are there for the same reason.
You are not going to offend someone by approaching them online.
That being said, the warning is the same for the virtual world as the real world.
Be careful about the information you offer and be clear about your intentions to avoid problems and stay safe.
It is great to talk to someone but be honest so you can be surrounded by people who are good for you.
Trust is an important factor in finding comfort.
Easy Access
Unlike the early days of the internet where people thought it was only computer specialists who were searching for friends online, today’s online world lets people socialize without feeling out of sorts.
There are very few who are not online in some way anymore and meeting people online is no longer so taboo.
Computer social interaction can bring new social situations to life online.
It offers easy access to others with whom we can talk, interact and enjoy a time of being surrounded by the positivity of others.
We need to be surrounded so we can feel good about ourselves so being able to have immediate online access to people who make us feel that way is a great opportunity to have.
A person who feels alone can get online in an instant to find someone who is supportive and caring.
Trial Run
While many feel a need to be surrounded by others who they find online, its important not to be so desperate in trying not to be alone that you settle for any one group to surround you.
While someone may feel so lonely that they jump at the first signs of friendship, use this virtual world to get to know people so you can choose who is the best to have surround you.
Not all will show their true self online, so it is important to make sure if you get into a more intimate online relationship or are going to meet them in person that you are surrounding yourself with the real deal.
It does not hurt to build relationships online so you can get a good feeling of who someone is before you go onto a closer relationship.
While everyone wants to be surrounded by people who like them, do a trial run online to make sure they are who you think they are.
Privacy
If you are someone who struggles to meet people or are looking to maintain some privacy while you build an online social world then its simple to keep your online social interactions to yourself.
You never have to give others information you do not want to.
You can still be upfront without sharing intimate details online.
Building an online community that surrounds you with support takes time and you need to make sure you are comfortable with what you share with who.
It is no one else’s business about why you are doing things or who you are talking too.
Be as open as you safely can or as a private as you want.
The choice is always yours.
Choosing the Right Surroundings
When you are trying to find a good group of people to surround you online, you want to make sure you find who is best for you.
Meeting someone online is a good step to figuring that out.
You can start to figure out who someone is by talking online before you make the jump to perhaps meeting in person.
You can learn lots about people through some easy introductory chat.
Maybe find similarities or quirky differences that you enjoy.
You can even do an introductory glance by looking at online profiles before you engage with them.
Individuals need to be surrounded by people who make them feel good and whom they feel some sense of trust.
Finding that footing while building an online relationship is important to make sure it suits your needs and comfort levels.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another good reason we need to be surrounded by good people online is that it allows someone to practice their social skills.
For those who are shy, are not used to being surrounded by people, have negative thoughts about themselves or simply are socially well versed, going online and being surrounded by virtual others is a great way to break the ice and learn to engage with others in a positive way.
Once you gain some confidence through these online interactions, you may make some friends and even feel like you can flirt online.
This may help you be more comfortable in your day to day life as well.
Practicing social skills and how to adapt to different people and personalities is a great way to learn how to choose who you want to “hang out” with and who you do not.
Learning to read people online can help give insight into how to have a healthy relationship with others.
You do You
When you feel a need to be surrounded by people who will treat you as you want and decide to head into the virtual world to do this, set up your own parameters to meet and interact with people.
You may be someone who is looking for the best friendship you can find, many casual acquaintances, a circle of friends or one single close companion.
Whatever your desire is, do it on your own terms.
No one can force you to be around others who are not who you want to be surrounded by.
Choose your online groups carefully and start your interaction slowly so you can begin to get a feel for the site, the group or the people.
Many people’s online profiles give you lots of insight into who they are.
If they seem too good to be true, that may require a little more detective work to see if that is the case.
There are many ways to chat and gain some insight into others.
Dating sites are pretty open with what people are looking for and who they want to be engaged with.
Some people will be upfront and say it is casual and they want to be surrounded by many different people and others are direct about being serious and looking for the “one”.
It is important to know what you want and what you are willing to accept in an online relationship as it begins.
Positive is Best
Finding others who bring out the best in you is important and it does not always seem possible for many in their day to day interactions with others.
A lot of people feel that they are in some type of social confinement through a lack of being able to feel integrated or surrounded by others who make them feel good.
Finding online sites that have a positive impact on your life is important.
Being uplifted by online interaction is what you want when trying to find people and groups who are accepting and interested in building relationships.
You have all the control you need to make sure that your virtual relationships are healthy, positive and give you the amount of privacy you desire.
If you are searching online, you may be missing something elsewhere but make sure you replace what you are missing with something good, not something out of desperation.
You do not want to create an unhealthy and negative group simply because you are quick to jump in.
Be slow in your search, genuine in your conversations and do what pleases you.
You have virtually the whole world to talk to.
Fulfil Fantasies from Behind the Computer
Joining an online world opens the doors to infinite possibilities of social interaction.
You can fulfil many of your fantasies in exciting and dynamic ways simply through a keyboard and your computer screen.
Whether you simply fantasize about having friends, being a character in an online game or joining some online groups to meet people for more intimate relationships, it is all there.
Finding a fantasy world can be the perfect escape from a mundane life or perhaps offers the ability to be the real you that you can not be in your everyday world.
Being able to talk and act through a computer means you can find worlds that meet your needs and desires on every level.
Each person is different and may want various things to make them happy, but they are easily found online.
As always, be sure of your safety and then you can enjoy whatever fantasy life you want to lead online.
Play a Network Game
If you are going to escape into a virtual world, there are many network games that will allow that.
The online experience opens the doors to everything you can think of.
If you want to play sports, become a character in an online fantasy world, be part of a team or a platoon or start to traverse into games that are more intimate and personal, they are all there whatever your preference is.
Playing a network game links you with other players who are interested in the same things as you and want to engage online.
Being in an online game though means there may be some who are not going to be upfront and can be a hazard to you so be careful what personal info you share to avoid any issues that may be hazardous in the long run.
Most are playing games for personal pleasure, but it is always good to be aware.
Chat & Write
The easiest way to introduce yourself and get to know others online is chatting on a site through comments or use DM’s (direct messenger).
You can use direct messenger to create smaller groups where you can carry on a conversation or simply write to someone on their own.
Chatting is a great way to get to know someone or a group of people.
It allows you to peak into their world while showing a bit of their personality to you.
People can show whether they enjoy the same things as you, what they want from a relationship and whether they are compatible with your personality.
There is nothing worse than putting a lot of effort into a relationship to discover a quirk that may drive you crazy.
Maybe there are crasser than you would like or do not have a sense of humour.
Chatting can be your “fieldwork” so you have an idea about someone and can start building an online relationship that works for both of you.
Other way to escape
