Dealing with emotions on this site

Because we have never met them in real life... so it is stupid. Why do we feel sad when someone leaves when we never me them in real life?

I am on the net and on chess sites since 1997 at least.

I never had any friend on any chess sites ...and only two on this site in the last 14 months and one left for lichess.and and no one before on any chess site BUT I played 50 times  more in MMORPG! since 1995 and i have still one friend i have meet in 1995 and i still play daily with her in DIABLO 1 and another one i did meet in 2000 in EVERQUEST and i'm still close with her by mail;she live in SF.

I do not think a chess site is the best place to find a long term friend because of the nature of chess;it's a very hard hobby and most quit after a bit!

In a mmorpg it's relatively easy game and you need others to play often and you can give them gift (equipment) that you get in the game and money in the game etc etc...

     I believe you are still a youngster, a student. Many of your friends, especially those you meet here, are people that share a common interest, members of a group of like-minded souls, people with whom you share a good fellowship. You undoubtedly have friends outside this group--at school, in your neighborhood, engaged in other activities you frequent. Very, very few of these friends will remain close for a lifetime. You probably have childhood friends with whom you are no longer close. That's life; people move away, lose interest in the activity that brought you together, develop political or religious opinions that you can't abide, die (I'm a septuagenarian so this is more common for me), or any number of other factors of normal day-to-day life that result in less and less contact and eventual estrangement. Cherish the times you do have with them, wish that they live long and prosper when you have to part, remeber them fondly, and perhaps have a happy surprise should chance bring you together again.

     Of course it is upsetting when you lose someone with whom you feel close. But it will happen, so shed a tear and move on. It's better than having no friends so you will never have to be depressed by their parting.

Just because we haven't met them in real life doesn't mean they are any less. Agreed that online friendships mostly aren't as strong as real life ones , but there are cases where you get to know someone online and bond with them very closely . So losing them is going to affect you as much as losing a real life friend

Hi guys , I don't think this is a thing that has been talked about much . 

This site has millions of users . Most probably haven't explored this site beyond playing chess. But many others have . We join clubs , we engage in blogs and forums , we make new friends. We talk with them , get to know them better and become close . And over the course of time many of us get emotionally attached to the friends we make here . Everything is fine and good until one of your close buddies leave the site. I have been occasionally using this site since the last two years . And I have been using this account since last 9 months . And even in these 9 months , I have lost countless number of close friends . One of my closest friends right now at this moment is probably going to be inactive for a year . All these events have taken a serious toll on my emotional health . But it also makes me think about others . I am sure there are many more who get very emotional when a friend leaves . There are people who have been on this site for 10 years and more . I wonder how do you guys deal with this sadness? How do you bear the pain of losing a close friend ? 

actually when i had to be inactive here i tried to have gud relationships with real life friends but i cant become close like this site friends

bc i talk to them more tan real life friends ur believing them and ur loving them

after being okay with site and u have to go after some time it is becoming so hard for u to leave all ur friends

I think you have to understand that "real close friends" is something you have in real life. Not via Internet...

If you need to get a strong bond with a live creature may i suggest to get a cat or 2 or even 3...not 4 like me..

I got 4 from the SPCA and you can trust me if you give them a lot of time you will get rewarded with something you will probably never get online..

They will make you feel very important just by looking in your eyes and rubbing their face on your face or hands or body and by purring very loudly when you talk to them etc etc etc....just talking to one cat and you see right away his tail moving because he/she feel happy to hear your voice is something special....a dog is even better but a lot more trouble....

Hi guys , I don't think this is a thing that has been talked about much . 

This site has millions of users . Most probably haven't explored this site beyond playing chess. But many others have . We join clubs , we engage in blogs and forums , we make new friends. We talk with them , get to know them better and become close . And over the course of time many of us get emotionally attached to the friends we make here . Everything is fine and good until one of your close buddies leave the site. I have been occasionally using this site since the last two years . And I have been using this account since last 9 months . And even in these 9 months , I have lost countless number of close friends . One of my closest friends right now at this moment is probably going to be inactive for a year . All these events have taken a serious toll on my emotional health . But it also makes me think about others . I am sure there are many more who get very emotional when a friend leaves . There are people who have been on this site for 10 years and more . I wonder how do you guys deal with this sadness? How do you bear the pain of losing a close friend ? 

Dragon, you are a good man, really.

Very open-hearted.

What is your religion?

Here's my advice. In terms of "friendships" you think you have online with people you don't know IRL. None of it means anything. Don't invest yourself emotionally in any of it. I've been in so many online communities and found out it's all totally meaningless to everyone. 

It's very difficult. Even if you don't willingly , it happens over the period of time

Try to stay in touch even if just an occasional hi. Don't overwhelm people, they may have a lot on their plate. Also if someone is taking up too much of your time politely ask for space. Keep making friends, you can never have too many and they help ease the sting when others go dark.