Building Relationships on Second Life

Hi guys, I am doing a project at the moment reguarding relationship building in CMC, "Computer Mediated Communication". It would be great if you could leave your thoughts and opinions on this subject area, as it would help me out alot.

For example, your own experiences you have had of relationship building on Second Life? Do you think it is a effective means of building relationships? Do you think it is as effective as building relationships in real life? If not what are the restraints?

I would much appreciate it. Thanks very much.

hi! i dont know if you're still looking at this or not, but, sure, i'll give you an answer.

i have to say, SL was great for me, for relationships. about a month after i joined, i met someone, and we have been going out since. now, a lot of people might scoff a this, but, honestly i've had a hard time in RL meeting people that i want to go out with, often because they are really good friends with exes so i dont go down that road.

the thing is, i would never have met this guy, if i wasnt in SL!

and, i have found that i have made some good friends here as well, that i wouldnt have made otherwise!

it's maybe not as effective in a physical sense, as you dont know what the person behind the avatar looks like. however, it does take that pressure away and lets your personality shine through, so you learn if people like you for WHO YOU ARE as opposed to WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

anyway...these are jsut my thoughts... ^_^