Transactional relationships online

[Deleted member 1609]

As someone who has been on the Internet for quite a while, I have noticed that things have become much more "transactional" over time. Ten or so years ago, people online used to want to engage in actual conversations and form friendships online--not for any reason, really, but just to meet new people and create new friendships. Now, it seems that people online really only want to associate with you in a transactional manner. I think that the "hustle culture" has made it so that people generally only want to associate with you in the context of getting something out of you.

It could be completely in my twisted imagination, though. Has anybody else noticed this?

 

[Nebulous]

If you’re just hanging around promotion forums and other forum owners then yeah, it’s a very transactional culture.

However there are lots of places online where people are purely there to chat and connect with other individuals.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

I've noticed this in many communities personally.

 

[Katrina]

We have some groups of people here who like to have fun in some of the threads on FP and at my forum Christianity Haven, I've been "friends" with a lot of those members for a long time. I think it depends on where you go and just finding your tribe?

 

[PGen98]

More generalized interactions, definitely. People want things from those, but there are plenty of good people who just want to chat in order to engage. Not clout grabbing, not looking for something in return, but just having a good time enjoying forums. Is this the majority? No, of course not, but it very much still exists.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places then. Just a thought, really.

 

[Shortie_]

I can fully see where you are coming from. I have been going around forums and using the internet for many years now and the difference between people wanting to be friends and chat with you compared to now when it seems to be more what they can get out of you is quite sad. I feel it's just the way things are now where people feel like they are self-entitled and because of that we have this culture of everyone seems to want something rather than just to chat or meet new friends.

Even though that does seem to be something that has overtaken how things used to be, you do still get some people who are online to meet new people and chat which still keeps that alive.

 

[Gizmo]

Only a small percentage of the community here only comes on to promote their forum order a package or other service and that's about it. Most people here are here for friends. I don't even own a forum and I find this forum completely beneficial as it's got a great friendship atmosphere to it.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

Only a small percentage of the community here only comes on to promote their forum order a package or other service and that's about it. Most people here are here for friends. I don't even own a forum and I find this forum completely beneficial as it's got a great friendship atmosphere to it.

I wasn't really talking about FP but the Internet in general.

 

[Etini Willie]

That is why you would see massive traffic on paid to post forums. And when a forum stops paying, it turns into a ghostland in. 24 hours.