How do you fall in love with someone you’ve never met?
“We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her,” Te’o said in a statement Wednesday.
That part of his story, at least, is not all that unusual. For people who have not participated in dating websites, or who met their partner in a traditional setting like a party, the notion of online love may be hard to grasp. But many relationships these days develop through the Internet: a 2010 Match.com survey says that 17 percent of couples married in the last three years met online.
“People probably think this never happens,” says Dr. Gail Saltz, a TODAY contributor and psychiatrist who specializes in relationships and sex. “The huge change in our social activity based solely on the Internet has made this a phenomenon that does happen.” …
Still, she said, it is possible for someone to feel in love without ever being in the same room as their beloved, much the way people develop strong crushes on celebrities.
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Ask Chrissy Matthews after he first saw Barky announcing his intention to run for Preznit.
Bishop on January 18, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Or never touched…you can’t be girlfriend/boyfriend if you never had any physical contact, even hand holding…
right2bright on January 18, 2013 at 11:44 AM
It happens. When you least expect it, cupid strikes in strange ways.
tommy71 on January 18, 2013 at 11:47 AM
For years women have sent love letters to Charles Manson.
Ever hear of the term “pen pals?”
rbj on January 18, 2013 at 11:51 AM
I met my wife online, and we im’d and talked to each other on the phone for hours daily. But, we also met each other in person about a month or two after our initial contact.
Got married less than a year after our initial contact online, been married over seven years now and have four children. We still act like newlyweds. Falling in love online is possible and can last, but there has to be a physical component to it, otherwise it really is all in your head.
Logus on January 18, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Falling in love is the easy part.
Not trying to SEE her, whether with online videos, or–especially–visiting her in California is inexplicable.
At that age, the urge to hop on a plane or greyhound bus to meet up would have been unstoppable.
This is the main reason that I know Te’o is a liar.
Nessuno on January 18, 2013 at 11:52 AM
The “someone” is the Heisman trophy.
playblu on January 18, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Kyle Reese managed to fall in love with a mere Polaroid of Sarah Connor. Thank goodness too since the human race’s survival apparently depended on it.
Doughboy on January 18, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Yeah, I just don’t see how he couldn’t have found the money, time or ability to see her in person. Less than two months after meeting online, I got permission from my boss to take a day off so I could hAve an extended weekend to drive eleven hours to see my girlfriend. Took one or two more trips north within the next couple of months and she took two trips south herself, before I packed up and moved to be near her.
If you truly love someone, college and football isn’t going to stop you from seeing them, neither is money. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time to travel, but I did anyway.
Logus on January 18, 2013 at 11:57 AM
First, there was Jaclyn Smith.
Then, Dorothy Hamill.
Onto Jamie Curtis (ala “Halloween” era)
etc…
But Jodie and the secret eye-blink code….Yeah Baby!
BobMbx on January 18, 2013 at 11:59 AM
I’d think it would be easier. Reality never comes in to shatter the mental picture you have of the person. You never see their faults or annoying behaviors, nothing clouds the image one would have about someone on the interwebs. They in fact, become the perfect soul mate.
2lbsTest on January 18, 2013 at 12:01 PM
@Logus Hats off to you, dude. You got lucky. Honestly, as a perennial bachelor, I’m envious. Lol
tommy71 on January 18, 2013 at 12:03 PM
Happened twice to millions of moochers across the country.
CurtZHP on January 18, 2013 at 12:05 PM
We have a winnnaaaaah!
BobMbx on January 18, 2013 at 12:07 PM
I never met Kristen Bell, but that doesn’t stop me from hiding in the bushes outside her home and keeping an eye on the windows.
mintycrys on January 18, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Enough said.
Let’s all move on to the next thread.
CycloneCDB on January 18, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Leave Megyn Kelly and me alone!
trs on January 18, 2013 at 12:17 PM
People do all sorts of odd things for publicity. Joe Theismann changed the pronunciation of his last name (formerly pronounced ThEEsmann) to rhyme with the name of the trophy.
Stu Gotts on January 18, 2013 at 12:24 PM
CATFISH !
They nip attune fins of the cod in transport to keep them lively ,
healthy and fresh .
So maybe the guy is just a cod ?
Lucano on January 18, 2013 at 12:36 PM
And now – he comes on the TV and tells us all about his prostate.
CycloneCDB on January 18, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Woha ,
They nip at the fins …..
Lucano on January 18, 2013 at 12:37 PM
In all seriousness, I give a lot of leeway to the young man on this matter and know the absolute truth will likely never come out. It seems bizarre to me, but I’m an old man. That said, even old men know how girls make boys dumb/crazy, and I can only imagine how modern technology can magnify it.
rogerb on January 18, 2013 at 12:51 PM
I’ve often wondered about that, too.
Billions and billions of Obama worshipers (including those in the NBC service) never met him either.
Sir Napsalot on January 18, 2013 at 1:14 PM
The latest Criminal Minds episode was about something like this.
***spoiler alert***
Dr. Reed (Reid?) fell in love with someone over the phone, then a crazy person who thought a pun about a penrose triangle and pi were on the same level of intellect killed herself and the love interest by shooting herself and the love interest with one pull of the trigger through both of their heads. Didn’t quite understand how that worked, but there you go.
cptacek on January 18, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Met my husband over the internet in ’99.
IT can happen.
Badger40 on January 18, 2013 at 1:59 PM
I shouldn’t have looked at your comment. Bcs I’ve missed several episodes.
GAH!
Badger40 on January 18, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Self-deception.
Seven Seas on January 18, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Sorry! It was still a good episode.
cptacek on January 18, 2013 at 4:14 PM