Hello Foolish - nice to see you posting.

I strongly believe trust is something one earns, but to do that, one has to be honest and put forth an effort too. It is difficult to trust one that doesn't trust you or anyother.

Not all that reply to one's post will always be honest, although for the vast majority I do believe it so. For it takes a lot of effort to post and reply. I would think it would take a very foolish person to spend all that time posting and replying if they were being dishonest.

For this being an online forum - one must be willing to trust (and it does have to work both ways) or there is no reason to post or participate - unless one is subject to playing games, and if and when that case may be, it always shows.

As for one being able to acquire answers - sometimes, but I do believe those that do take the time and spend the effrot to reply do so in the very best of attentions.

Family and friends have pressures on them when asked for serious and important answers we so seek, and may somewhat feel cautious about being truthful with us because they may not wish to take a chance of hurting our feelings or ruining the relationship.

Here - one may discuss what bothers them without having to wake up the next day and look the person in the eye. That makes it easier for people to be honest and to seek answers to whatever it is that bothers them. It also makes it easier for others to answer. Sure - one may not always get the answers they seek, but they are sure to receive support - from people that do care.

And the beautiful thing about friendshsips, is that they can be formed online. Where is it written that only good people are those next door? Or that one has to see another before they can decide of they like them?

To say you can't believe one unless you know them personally is to say you can't trust them either and that is I believe selling everyone short - including yourself.

Somewhere at sometime, one has to make that first step and then another, but that first step will be the hardest - it always is. I would think it would be better to have believed and discovered different later, to have trusted than to never having someone to trust and to have trust you back, to have loved (regardless of how it turned out) and lost than to never have loved at all. I hope you see where I'm going with this. Perhaps some soul-searching will help.

Personally, I believe one is able to forge great friendships online. Not seeing them at work or whenever I go to socialize also means I don't have to stop doing whatever it is I may be doing when the phone rings to talk with them. I am able to talk and communicate to them whenever I wish, by email, by IM on even in some chat room. Online friendships remove much of the unwanted batter we experience with people next door.

The bottom line is life is what you make it. Sure we have drawbacks, but the thing is, if one doesn't put forth much of an effort, how can they expect to get much in return?

I don't always expect for people to agree with me whenever I post but I do expect for them to believe me - if they don't believe me - why should I waste my time and theirs? (I've added this after I posted - sorry for the changes)

Your friend Sam

"You'll never know what you're capable of if you don't try."