1998 I was living at college, I had a close group of friends that consisted of around 12 people, then I had people on the outer circle who I classed as friends which consisted of around another 50 people.

Needless to say my college times are a little blurry.

Fast forward to 2007 and in the past week I have spoken to around 30 people who I would class as “friends”, well, they are friends in the sense that I know a lot about them, I chat with them regularly, I enjoy speaking to them, and we have a lot in common.

However, out of these 30 friends, I don’t even know what 28 of them look like.

What’s more… I don’t even know how the voices of 25 of them sound.

These “friends” are on my MSN instant messenger contacts list. Some of them I have been speaking to for years, others months, but this has to raise the question…

Are these real friends?

I suppose it depends on the definition of a real friend.

2002 and I am stood on a balcony in Benidorm, it is the last day of our 14 days lads holiday. We have had two amazing weeks of beer fueled mayhem, and as we stare across the horizon as the sun sets, we share stories and promise each other that we will be mates for life.

Let’s fast forward again to 2007…

Of the friends from that holiday, one of them I haven’t seen in 3 years, one of them I only speak to via MSN, and the other I don’t speak to at all.

So who are the real friends here? The ones who I have known for 10+ years, have thousands of great memories with, have been on many holidays with… BUT, haven’t spoken to in 3+ years

OR

The people who I have never met in person, may never meet in person, but speak to on a regular basis?

Perhaps this is modern life? Perhaps we are going to become far less sociable over the coming decades?