May 17, 2014

Hugs.

This is a film about hugging.

There's been some debate about the difference between real life friendships and Internet friendships. Some folks believe that one is somehow less meaningful than the other; the reasoning being that if you haven't met them in person, it doesn't count.


But there are many people who stand by their Internet friends as more loyal and supportive than friends or family from real life.



I wanted to address that difference, by making this film. For me, the screen is really the only thing that stands between us, and yet it is there nonetheless.

Someday I will hug you in person.

What do you think about friendships on the Internet?

Pass this hug on - click to tweet.


35 comments:

  1. That was VERY sweet! *HUGGSS* I like to send lots of those because it is sometimes the only wordless way I can describe how I feel and I hope it means something to those I send them to.

    While it's true that I may never meet some of my internet friends in person, that doesn't mean that they are not real. I've met some truly lovely and supportive people online and have even been out to see one in person. We remain friends to this day.

    So yes, my virtual friends are quite real. I enjoy their insight, cleverness, validation, and even when I am not online consider them all to be just as important as the ones I talk face to face with on a daily basis.

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    1. Sometimes words are both not enough and too much, and you just want to show that you care. *Huggss* can reach out and do that.

      PS. you are real.

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  2. I love hugs. You can hug me anytime!

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  3. When I'm having a horrible day, my FB friends are there for me. My "real" friends...not so much.

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    1. I'm sorry. I hope you count me as one of your FB friends.

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  4. I think people are wrong when they evaluate IRL relations and online relations differently. In the book I have written about how we relate to each other in social media, I conclude that communication is the relation. Without communication, you have no relation. Which of these makes the strongest relation: an IRL friend that you spent a lot of time with five years ago but haven't met since and only talk to once a year on the phone OR a social media friend that you follow every day and exchange some thoughts with at least once a week?

    I believe it's wrong to say that one kind of relation is better than another, they are complementary. And many times it's very enriching to find a friend online.

    For some people, internet friends make all the difference, because they can't meet friends IRL in an easy way.

    Let's embrace all kinds of friendship!

    Many HUGS from the island of Gotland, Sweden.

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    1. I agree with you Asa. I'll add that the kind of sharing is different in some ways, but the depth is there.

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  5. So nice... so sweet...my HUG for you too!

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  6. This is great JC! I think that internet ((hugs)) can be just as good as IRL hugs when you are down. I have met some wonderful people on the internet who I interact with more regularly than people I know in person. Those friendships have come to mean a lot to me and are a part of my support system.

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    1. Many friendships would never have happened if not for the Internet. I, like you, have a support system online. I have one in real life too, but it's different. It's not one or the other.

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  7. There are some days, weeks, months, years that you just need a special online JC hug. Thank you!

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    1. You're welcome and please pass it on! One little hug can go a long way.

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  8. Awwwwwwwwwwww.... Dat was cutesie!! Tanks for da hugs JC!!

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  9. I watched this on my phone the other day and might have squealed a little. I love it so so very much. It just made me happy. :) Thank you for the love and for sharing your talent.

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    1. I'm not so talented, but at least I can make you squeal all the way in NC!

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  10. L-O-V-E. I'll pass it on right now. Whimsy and yet serious and yet poignant. Lovely.

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    1. Thank-you! I was going for all three of those things.

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  11. Making friends online is the same as having a pen pal. You really get to know them through their writing.

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    1. That's how I try to explain it to my mom. It's like penpals on steroids.

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  12. I finally got back to my computer so I could watch this. Love, love, love.

    Oh, and hugs! xxxx

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    1. Thanks Tammy. And thanks for having my back today :D

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  13. I cant live without real hugs, but with so many friends overseas, the virtual hugs have taken on a different sort of meaning. I dont think you can replace real human interaction with virtual life completely, thats not healthy, but its a different form of interaction and as such has just as much value. Not the same, but equally valuable and valued!
    ( I am particularly good at bear hugs, and from what I've seen you look pretty mini JC, so this may swallow you up, but I'm sending it anyway!)
    Hugs!!

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  14. That was awesome.

    And don't think I won't hold you to that "someday I will hug you in person" thing.

    You're the Best, J.C.
    --Johann

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    1. I think the holding me to it will be the hugging part, no? Ha!

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  15. I wish I hadn't waited so long to watch this. Finally catching up on blog reading and - look! - JC just gave me a hug. How sweet. :)

    I come from a big Italian family. We hug. But I always remind myself that not everyone is a hugger. And that's okay! I can still send Internet hugs!

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