The chances of two people feeling a special attraction and an interpersonal spark (i.e. “chemistry”), are comparatively greater in a digital environment than offline. Do you agree or disagree, and why?
I believe that the chance of feeling a spark in an online environment is much higher because the chances of being turned off by a quirk or whatever else are much lower. People don’t smell funny online. People don’t forget to brush their teeth online. People don’t show their awkwardness online. Sure, meeting online can help us to read the book instead of just looking at the cover but in the real world, the cover matters too. You don’t want to have the wrong book staring you in the face every morning before work or every night at dinner. I believe that judging a book by its cover is obviously wrong but so is doing the opposite. A relationship needs to work on every level no matter what it takes. I do not doubt that great relationships can begin online because it often puts people off to great starts since you’ve already began reading the book but haven’t yet seen the cover.
I personally know that I benefit greatly from in-person interaction as opposed to online communication. All of my best relationships including the one I’m currently in all began in real-life situations-meeting at parties, bonfires, or whatever else it may be so it’s possible I’m biased toward real-life interaction. It seems as though successful, lasting, online relationships are few and far between but as are those that begin through other means as well. With the divorce rate through the roof, I have to wonder if there is some connection to online dating services and meeting people online. There is obviously a difference between talking online and talking in person because we don’t always get the full story online. There are missing pieces that are keys to the rest of the story behind the person you meet online. Online dating can be prosperous for the right people and a failure for others but there is no doubt it provides a kick start to relationships and often times a spark much easier.
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