What started me thinking about this is a post John Boyle (@BrandFlair) wrote for 12Most entitled "12 Most Karmic Ways to Pay It Forward Online."
In that post, John gives you 12 ways to engage, thank, support and show appreciation for others online.
To me. it seems that people online consciously make an effort to do these items on a consistent basis as well as to educate others to do the same.
Yet, how often IRL, in the offline world, do people do those items on a consistent basis as well as educate others to do the same?
In my opinion, not often enough.
It seems that many show far more support to new online friends than they do co-workers and friends.
Maybe it's because when we start online, we start with a clean slate. We can "show up" as any person we want to be; perhaps it is the opportunity for us to become the person we always wanted to be.
Previously I asked the question "Are you Personally Impersonal Online?" because it seemed to me people shared more personal information, even confidences, with strangers or brand new friends than they did with those IRL.
Most who commented said that they shared far more information with online friends than those offline. Many went on to say they felt closer to online friends than those IRL.
Once again there seems to be a distinct difference in the way many people interact with online vs. offline friends.
It seems that our social media friends, the online world, are the beneficiaries of the etiquette lessons and respect that go far in building relationships.
Online most people take the time to thank, to acknowledge and to show appreciation yet offline, as they rush through the day, they barely acknowledge a favor or take the time to say "hi."
Do people online make more of an effort to Pay It Forward than do people IRL?
Why do you think that is?
Do you sometimes find yourself taking more time for your online friends than you do your offline friends?