Aspects of online socialization

As others have mentioned, conversing online is a kind of socialization, although it is cyber/virtual socialization. It is important for people to be able to express themselves in as many mediums as possible : face-to-face, phone, letter, e-mail, etc.

Written communication (both online and on paper) has the disadvantage of being misunderstood easily, without inflection or body language. It is important for people to understand that, but the current trend seems to be to get mad at someone because they e-mailed/posted/texed etc. something you don't like and overreact before thinking things through. I guess the next step in this socialization is somehow to teach some patience and calmness when dealing with such things!

I have seen a few students who are so obsessed with talking to people online that they pretty much have refused to have relationships with any of the flesh and blood people around them save their parents and teachers.

I also know some people who do work from home. There are some great advantages and some serious disadvantages. As things become more automated, there will be fewer face-to-face interactions and some people may really have to intentionally make the effort to see another person in a week's span.

Definitely interesting...

Jam it back in, in the dark.