How do you back out of online friendships?

I agree.

Well, a solution presented itself and I took it. I wrote about the toxic MH forum I was on in another thread. These two people are from there. I wrote a very nice message to all on a thread:

I am fine, peeps. Well, closer to fine, by Indigo Girls. Just saying hello, sending big hugs to everyone and hoping things improve for all those who are suffering.It's been a little while, but I will soon disappear again. ((((Hugs))))

And got a response from one of my online Skype moderator friends that my post was edited, not this one but another. Only because of something else, not because of what I had written. Why even bring up another one? I decided right then and there to delete these two ppl from my Skype. It was that easy.

That is the end of it.

LOL -- I pretty much have. I am now dead to these people.

You know, I am now tending to agree with you...

but it poses a question for me: are online relationships similar to IRL relationships in that we want to still treat others as we would want to be treated? Isn't it all the same? Showing kindness and extending friendship, even if we haven't met in person?

Just because it's online, doesn't mean our behavior needs to be any different, right?

As it turns out, I hurt these two people, at least one of them I know of, after trying so hard not to hurt them. One of them was so hurt, she lashed out at me in anger and said hurtful words.

I feel like I'm a bad person for backing out of these friendships in the way that I have. I thought I had the solution, but it was a misunderstanding on my end. I jumped the gun and thought this person had wronged me, when she hadn't .

I apologized to her this morning in a PM, but now I just feel worse. I try to be careful with people's feelings, and in this case, I screwed it all up.

Oy!

I'm sorry Golden Eve. I'm the same way. I don't like to hurt peoples feelings. And on the internet, with internet friends and people it can be hard. there can be misunderstandings. Try not to beat yourself up. You are a good person with a good heart. You're doing your best.

Thank you so much. I do try my best and yes, It IS hard. And yes, I find that misunderstandings are sooooo easy through online communication. Same with texting. You miss out on tone, facial expressions and any other bodily cues that help with communication. Argh. Not easy.