Having someone throw a surprise cyber birthday party for you...

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You know how it is with message boards - you get to chat to people who are geographically separated by oceans. If someone were to throw a cyber birthday party in a private chat room, where they had secretly invited all your other cyber friends from around the world, and had arranged lots of cool music and silly games to play......

Would you think that was incredibly pathetic? Or cool?

Honest opinions please (before I make an arse of myself) :)

― C J (C J), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:08 (twenty-three years ago)

It doesn't strike me as much of a substitute for the real thing (and it may not be intended as such). Depends how big a part the internet plays in th person's life, I guess.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:31 (twenty-three years ago)

No, obviously it's a rubbish subsititute for the real thing.

But in the context, say, of ILX - you "know" people from America, Canada, NZ, Australia etc etc via a fairly close-knit community, but you have never actually met.

If it were *your* birthday, and someone hosted a surprise party type thing for you - as an expression of their friendship - would you think it odd, or would you be pleased?

― C J (C J), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:35 (twenty-three years ago)

It would be kinda touching, but also a bit of a headache -- chats with more than a handful of people get unweildy quickly, IMO. Better for them to all get together and do something, you know, creative and/or silly to show their affection & appreciation that to just try and wrangle them into the same window at the same time.

― Chris P (Chris P), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I would be pleased, I think - I am someone for whom the web, and ILX particularly, plays a big and important part. I do feel a real friendship, digital as it may be, with loads of people all over the world through this site.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 23 February 2003 22:42 (twenty-three years ago)

I would say "dud" -- if only because I'm against the idea of surprise parties. But I'm neurotic and weird.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 23 February 2003 23:41 (twenty-three years ago)

I say "classic", as it's a really thoughtful thing to do, and could be a really novel experience. I'd love to find myself in a chatroom with, say, half a dozen of my favourite foreign ILXors. Imagine - Rainy! Nitsuh! Chris Piuma! Toraneko! It'd be fantastic!

― Mark C (Mark C), Sunday, 23 February 2003 23:59 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, admittedly, that does seem like a pretty sweet mix.

― Chris P (Chris P), Monday, 24 February 2003 03:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks for your opinions. I think I might try and organise this - it's difficult to think of unusual ways in which you can give "presents" to someone in a virtual way to show that you appreciate them, but I do like the idea of making an effort to celebrate a cyber-pal's birthday. I have decided that just because a friendship is digital, it doesn't make it any less special or worth any less effort than a real world one.

I now have to think up ideas for 'presents' which can be posted on a message board or sent electronically.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Silly suggestions are welcome too, as he's a very funny guy.

― C J (C J), Monday, 24 February 2003 09:42 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd love to find myself in a chatroom with, say, half a dozen of my favourite foreign ILXors. Imagine - Rainy! Nitsuh! Chris Piuma! Toraneko! It'd be fantastic!

AAAA-HEM!

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 24 February 2003 09:44 (twenty-three years ago)

oh no! Mark is in trouble again OH NO!

― C J (C J), Monday, 24 February 2003 09:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yes. He's a rascal, a bounder and a cad.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 24 February 2003 09:47 (twenty-three years ago)

CJ - Isn't it unlikely to find your friend logged on on his birthday. I should hope that the last place you would find me on my magical birthing day would be tapping away at a keyboard ON MY OWN. Or doesn't this all have to happen on the day itself?

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 24 February 2003 09:49 (twenty-three years ago)

He'll be at work on his birthday, and he does log on while he's there (or at least it would be easy to talk him into logging on). Due to the five hour time difference, I thought I'd arrange a party for mid-morning MA time, which is about 4pm UK time. That way all of his net-pals would be around for maybe an hour or so for a party.

No wonder the world economy is in such a shabby state, everyone spends their time chatting to friends on the internet all day instead of working. Or maybe we're just all v skilled at "multi-tasking"!

Anyway - yes, he'll be around during the day (but not at night as he will be out partying for real, obv)

― C J (C J), Monday, 24 February 2003 10:01 (twenty-three years ago)

That should work fine then. Just make sure that it's not too much fun or HE MIGHT GET SACKED. And that would be a distinctly rubbish birthday present.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 24 February 2003 10:05 (twenty-three years ago)

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