The one real friend I have made in my vegetarian support group is ChronicIL. She sends me "virtual hugs" and always responds to my discussion questions. Her answers are thoughtful, rational, and eloquent. She noticed in my profile that I live in Madison and immediately connected with me over the vegetarian cuisine options available here. Two weeks ago, I visited the African restaurant recommended by her: Buraka. This tiny whole in the wall is wedged between two of my favorite restaurants on State: Kabul and Husnus. It's street front display is a single glass door with a neon sign. I had passed it probably hundreds of times, but always chosen a guaranteed and familiar option instead. Admittedly, I would have never ventured to Buraka if ChronicIL hadn't suggested it as having delicious, veg-friendly food. Although I had considered stopping there before, I could never convince my friends to go their on a whim. But with this new advice I was able to convince not one, but two to join me.
I've expressed frustration with the redundant discussions and group polarization within my support group. However, ChronicIL's offer of advice has actually benefited me and helped me regain some faith in the purpose of groups like this. Although I've never had a true, synchronously mediated conversation with ChronicIL, and all I know about her is her gender, age, and location, my dailystrength.org group connected me to her based on a common interest. Because I have so few "real" friends and family members who are also vegetarian, I have really come to value ChronicIL's companionship. Furthermore, because my interactions with ChronicIL online influenced my actions offline, my virtual community extended into my physical reality. Pretty cool. I can assume that people who are members of more legitimate support groups (disease, addiction, ect.) are also able to experience this transcendence of realities by implementing advice or habits learned within their respective online support groups into their offline lives.
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