MSNBC has an interesting story concerning long-distance romances and relationships. Before the internet, long distance relationships lived and died by the phone and written letters. Now, there’s instant messaging services, Facebook, or Second Life among other methods for fanning the long distance flames. I have to wonder how this will affect the quality of relationships. Now, before you start calling me one of those “Back in my day” curmudgeons, think about this. When you have to guage your contact with the cost of a phone call or you wait in agony for the next letter from your sweetheart to arrive, when you finally connect, the feeling is much stronger. Flirting over the phone or in a risque love letter increases your desire to be with that person. And when you do arrange to see each other, each moment is special, whether you’re taking a walk or just sitting on a park bench. Carrying on a long-distance relationship via the internet removes some of that. You don’t get a chance to miss that person, or even learn whether that person is right for you. Maybe I am a “back in my day” curmudgeon, but I wouldn’t have lived my dating years any other way.