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Are You Lonely and Looking For Senior Friends to Chat With?By Robert Funge - 2010-11-24 Human beings are social beings. We all want friendship, communication and interaction with others. This longing doesn't go away simply because we grow older. For those over 50, the ability to connect with other seniors often becomes more difficult. Much of our society is geared toward younger people, and those of more mature years often feel out of place. Instead of turning to the "bar scene" and other such social places to gather, many of the over 50 crowd are turning to the internet to connect with others. This is especially true for seniors who are not as mobile as they once were, as well as those who find themselves in a more isolated situation. The internet truly offers a great means of social networking, but it must be approached carefully. Putting yourself on the internet can open you up to many perils. This is especially true when it comes to your personal information. The internet is not equipped to distinguish between the good and the bad. Thus, you must be careful. In addition, the internet is a vast expanse which needs to be taken under control and narrowed down according to one's needs. If it's your desire to connect with others, there are ways of accomplishing that. One way is to join a profile site; another is to join a reputable chat room. These are both ways of connecting with others. There are some benefits of joining a profile site, such as being able to re-connect with friends or relatives. The downside is that you and your personal information may become available to persons you may rather wish didn't have it. Chat rooms, on the other hand, also have their dangers. Less reputable persons are always trying to gain your trust in order to scam or defraud you. However, one of the benefits of a chat room is that you are narrowing your internet circle. You are not simply opening yourself to the larger web. And, quite often, other members of the chat room oversee and monitor the site. This fact can provide greater security. Narrowing and focusing your interests and needs is something chat rooms are quite adept at performing. For the senior citizen, you can not only refine your profile according to your interests, you can also refine the age group you wish to connect with. In a chat room, you can connect with people of similar age and interests around the world, around the nation, and even around the corner. You can simply chat with others, or you can form deeper relationships. You can relate your joys, your frustrations, and even your sadness. And unlike e-mail, these communications occur in real time. The internet may be scary, but one should always remember that there are many others who share the same need for social connection that you do. There are dangers to be found on the internet. But those dangers are far outweighed by its benefits. Being aware of its dangers is probably your greatest defense. Never give out personal information that may be used against you. For most seniors, reputable senior chat rooms can be a godsend. It can open up a whole new world of interaction. "Senior Chatters" (seniorchatters.co.uk) is a monitored site completely dedicated to those over 50. It opens seniors to a worldwide community, and provides the means for over 50's to communicate with other seniors and discover new senior pen pals. "Senior Chatters" is a great way to step out of your isolation, and enter a whole new world of interaction.
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