Do We Make “True” Friends in SL?

I have been in SL for three years and five months as four consecutive avatars. For one reason or another, I have deleted accounts and started over. I am sure that I am not the only one who’s done that, and whether or not doing so constitutes lying is a topic for another post. I have met all kinds of people during my time here: mentally unstable people, troublemakers, artists, builders, creators, writers, lovers, partners, and friends.

I have been shoulder to cry on, listener, and giver-of-advice for RL and SL relationship problems. I have hung around in seedy sims with my pals to kill time. I have contributed to running SL businesses and to photography projects. I have spent hours upon hours interacting with other people in SL.

I have done all of these things with people I have a rapport with and who’ve surpassed the acquaintance level of friendship, but I am not really sure if I can call these people “friends” in the true sense of the word.

When I interact with people in SL, the real me listens. The real me gives advice. The real me gives her time and effort to others. I do realize that I shouldn’t do these things with the expectation of getting something in return – I should do it in order to help. But, I am tired of having “friends” who expect me to listen to every last detail of their drama and to empathize with their situations who cannot extend the same courtesy to me. I try not to discuss relationship problems with my friends in SL. With the exception of ONE friend – when I do ask for advice – the same people who expect me to listen diligently to their problems have no time to listen to mine.

This has happened so frequently to me that I must ask, “Are these people my ‘true’ friends?”