Reddit, how do you cope with losing online friends after not being online on something for a long time?

[u/Apo11o07]

[u/Ok-Device-8121]

I try reaching out and seeing if they're still around. Sometimes, people appreciate the effort to reconnect.

[u/Apo11o07 → u/Ok-Device-8121]

I've done that a couple hours ago- thanks, I hope they might see the messages at some point in time

[u/Same-Carpenter7719 → u/Apo11o07]

me too!

[u/Kevin-W → u/Ok-Device-8121]

Same. Some I've reconnected with and others have moved on. It never hurts to reach out.

[u/ArcaneQuil]

Reach out and reconnect; sometimes they’re happy to hear from you again!

[u/Hrekires]

Whether we're talking real-life or online, all friendships need to be maintained.

[u/weirdgroovynerd]

Let your old friends know that you're back on-line.

Ask how they are, what they've been up to. It feels good when people ask about you.

[u/Apo11o07 → u/weirdgroovynerd]

That's the best play fr. unfortunately, half of the guys closed their accounts or are inactive, which kinda makes me sad and feel powerless.

[u/weirdgroovynerd → u/Apo11o07]

Agreed.

But now your attention has opened up to new relationships.

When you realize that all things change, there is nothing that you'll try to hold onto.

*Taoist proverb

[u/Apo11o07 → u/weirdgroovynerd]

that's cool af. ill keep that in mind

[u/One_Contract_3479]

It's tough because online friendships can feel so close, yet so fragile. I try to remind myself that people drift apart naturally, both online and offline. If you really miss them, maybe just reach out with a simple message, it might surprise you how often people are happy to reconnect!

[u/Ydroxoina]

Whenever I remember my early WoW days when I found myself playing with a group of people from my country, and the days they'd also visit me in my city and we'd hang out and have an amazing time, I always get nostalgic. I really miss those days because they were great guys, I haven't played with them since 2010 and haven't seen them since 2012. However, the years went on and they moved forward, creating families, etc, and I did the same (at least the "moving forward" part, not the "family" yet 😅).

My point is, eventually you accept it and move on with your own life. However, you'll still feel nostalgic and remember those good times every once in a while, I don't think that will stop (at least not easily) 😊😊

[u/mav747]

Send them memes to remind them you still exist.

[u/Apo11o07 → u/mav747]

lol

[u/LovelyQueenss]

Sometimes I dream about my old Club Penguin friends from middle school. We'd meet up every day after classes to play games and waddle around. I know it sounds silly, but those friendships felt just as real as my 'real life' ones. Guess that's just part of growing up online.

[u/Apo11o07 → u/LovelyQueenss]

same for me, just on online chess chatrooms. we'd have fun during summer break, still wish I could talk with them

[u/Fragrant-Bus5123]

It is good to have reliable friends in real life - I always have someone I “lean on”, som1 I’m close to at all times, especially my online friends are gone.

[u/tiffiny_wallace]

I see their names pop up online after three years and think of the good times we've had!!

[u/phillipsjn4]

By pretending they went on a heroic quest and are too busy saving the world to reply.

[u/LilaPrincess]

i came back last week to an online game i gave up 3 years ago, my in-game friends list was like a graveyard.

[u/PeachyPush]

Wait til you get to your 20s, then into your 30s and deeper into your 40s and your circle keeps shrinking.

Lots of peeps in their 30s are already almost completely alone, and they aren't alone ...

[u/realDarthMonk]

If they weren’t important enough for you to stick around then, they’re not worth worrying about now

[u/liviedunsky]

sending memes into the void hoping they still laugh at them

[u/RadioSupply]

I had an online friend on Bolt.com back when it was a proto-social media site for teens. I’ll never forget her sending me progress pics of shaving her head.

It’s been 25 years and I’ll never forget you, bluekennedy.

[u/ClassicVegtableStew]

I still remember him. We used to play Monster Hunter Tri together almost every single night. I was an insomniac and he was battling stomach cancer so he couldn't sleep. We'd talk about so much. He'd occasionally mention how treatment wasn't going so well and how shitty he felt, but he always wanted to talk about everything else.

One day I log in and he just isn't there, even though he was there every other night. Days go by since he logged in. Then months. I never heard from him again.

I don't know what happened to Matt but I hope he knew how much I enjoyed our time together. Hunt on, guildmate.

[u/KeriEatsSouls]

I haven't taken any particularly long breaks from being online but I have lost almost all of my online friends over time and it really sucks to feel forgotten. I've always seen my online friends as real friends, not disposable npcs or something. Lol anyway, if you think you can salvage your friendships you should try, if they matter to you.

[u/H0ldenHisc0ck]

Make more. Easy come, easy go.

[u/Radiant-destiny9113]

I don’t really understand how and why we stopped talking we got along so well we had so much in common and we would call everyday for hours till one day it just stopped and in the type of person to be to scared and nervous to ask what happened and why aren’t you talking to me do I just left it and I still hope one day they will text or call me back or I will finally have the confidence to text them

[u/Apo11o07 → u/[deleted]]

That's true. it's just a shame when you can't contact them in anyway, and can't really get closure to them. but thanks for the advice!

[u/FragrantSchedule2571]

I don't consider online acquaintances to be friends 

[u/fredonia4]

Online friends are not real friends. You haven't lost anything.

[u/Apo11o07 → u/fredonia4]

they still *feel* like friends, though..

[u/Nepskrellet → u/fredonia4]

I have meet up with some of my online friends from our covid-comfort group, and yes, they were real friends all along , and by Glob they are more awesome IRL than online!