@FreakyFwoof @jdking92 Literally. You're gonna tell me my friendship with someone is less real and valid just because I met them on the internet. Yeah, okay, thanks. I feel great about that. Maybe it's because all of my closest friends are online, but anyone using this term in relation to online/offline relationships instantly loses my respect. A bit petty, maybe, but this is an absolutely massive peeve of mine, and I refuse to back down on it. Online is your real life and I will die on this hill.

@jdking92 I think using it in terms of a TV show, book, game, ETC is a very different story. I see no harm in using "real life" to distinguish from an obviously fictional world. But "real life" is never, ever an okay distinguishing term to apply to online/offline events and relationships. That term being used in this context makes me want to explode into a ball of fire and obliterate anyone using it.

Your little reminder that the term "IRL" (in real life) is inherently invalidating and can come across harmful to online experiences that are very much real and valid. The friends you make online are just as real, valid, and authentic as the ones you make offline. The online things you do are just as real as the offline things you do. There is no "real life" distinction because both online and offline interactions are your real life. We desperately need a new, normalized term for this.