In reply to the pseudo-intellectual rant above:
I've talked with both Ghost and "LC" (lol). I posted what I posted for a reason - they both know this. Kind of you to play the nice guy, but I can assure you this path you're following is just that.
As far as the e-relationship and e-friend.... I don't really agree with the concepts behind those terms. I have over 200 people's contact info in my phone that I am friends with (treo650!). My AIM buddy list contains literally hundreds of people from all over this planet that I have been talking to for as short as a few days or as long as over a decade. I'd say it's about a 50/50 split on who I know from just online, and who I know from IRL(web-vernacular:in real life). Anyone can talk and relate. It's simply a matter of who you trust with what - and also what you show to who and when. "None of what you hear and half of what you see" is a very good thing to bear in mind. I've been online longer than most (386sx16 2400 baud external hayes bbs days, irc, fidonet), so I think I should be considered qualified to talk about this stuff. Talking to someone online or in person for that matter is always something you should be willing to take responsibility for. I'm not saying "games" don't have their place - I've read quite a few books studying transactional analysis(social schematics), and for the uninitiated they can and will work. Brutal honesty, knowing how to listen, and being perceptive enough to ask the right questions will not only enhance the quality of your conversation, it will also help reduce the amount of games you end up dealing with. Going too far can result in "salting game" though which will usually end up in 2 out of 3 of the following:
-kind
-just
-fun
That is to say you can be kind, and just - but it won't be fun. You can be just, and fun, - but it won't be kind. Finally you can be kind, and fun, - but it won't be just. But through the use of tact - you can avoid this pitfall and remain equally balanced between the three.
Also, the whole bit about 'giving advice that they do not take', I think of that as hypocracy and wouldn't take such advice from anyone. I've talked to both of them and they can both tell you that one of the things I frequently point out when giving advice is that I am single and my longest relationships are 3 to 6 months. Frankly, I'm picky - I have a tendency to date girls most would consider out of my league. I'm also partial to non-conventional relationships when both parties are consenting. Also - there are members on this forum who will attest to some of my greater(and infamous) accomplishments. In short - ethics be damned, I have fun, and I endure minimal drama. I'm honest to a fault and in the ultimate legal sense, my nose is clean. On the bonus side - never knocked anyone up, never had any STD's (not even a ******* cold sore - and I get tested), and I've got an incredible arrangement with no strings other than friendship.
Still, I see what you were trying to diffuse and it's kewl. I won't presuppose to comment on what possible intentions you might harbor - but I thought I'd clear up my own end.
